IMPHAL, Feb 26: The All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) has reiterated its demand for the reinstatement of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and a halt to the ongoing construction of border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border. The association has warned that it will not remain silent if the authorities concerned fail to address these critical issues.
Representatives of ANSAM met with Manipur’s Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan today and submitted a memorandum outlining their demands. The memorandum calls for the restoration of FMR in Naga-inhabited areas, which the association argues is crucial for the preservation of the rights and heritage of the Naga community. Furthermore, they have strongly opposed the ongoing construction of the border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, stressing its negative impact on the community’s way of life.
Speaking to the media, ANSAM President Th Angteshang Maring explained that the memorandum had been submitted to highlight the concerns of the Naga population and the state as a whole. He emphasized that the matter was raised not in opposition to any particular community, including the Meitei or Kuki, but to assert the rights of the indigenous Naga people of the state.
Maring pointed out that the Government of India had initiated the border fencing project without consulting the Naga population, under the pretext of controlling illegal immigration from neighboring countries. He explained that the Indo-Myanmar Border is not merely an arbitrary boundary but represents an important cultural, familial, and historical connection for the people living on both sides. He described the India-Myanmar Border as an “imposed imaginary line,” drawn without the consent of the tribal communities whose lives are intricately linked across the border.
The ANSAM president further emphasized the importance of reinstating FMR, which allows for free movement between the two countries, reflecting the cultural and familial ties that span across the border. He argued that the border fence disrupts this deep connection, symbolizing not just a physical separation but a severing of these vital bonds.
In addition, Maring expressed that the construction of the border fence was not the most effective solution to address illegal immigration. He suggested that the government, both at the central and state levels, should instead focus on implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to tackle the issue more comprehensively.
The association also highlighted the deteriorating state of educational and healthcare infrastructure in Naga regions, urging immediate government intervention to improve these essential services.
ANSAM reaffirmed its commitment to fighting for the rights and interests of the Naga community, highlighting the cultural and historical importance of these issues in shaping the future of the region.
