Ukhrul, June 2: The people’s movement against the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the imposed border fencing construction across the Naga homeland has gained momentum with the closure of government offices called by the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) in the Naga-inhabited area.
The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), the apex student body of the Tangkhul community, on Monday successfully enforced the first day of agitation at Ukhrul Headquarters. The office picketing has completely paralysed all activities of government offices.
President of TKS, Ramreichan Keishing, stated that “as a federating unit of ANSAM, we will extend our fullest cooperation. We reiterate our full commitment to defend our land and for our people.”
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“In consonance with the stand of the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), against the revocation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the imposed border fencing across the Naga homeland, the TKS expresses its unwavering support and joins the collective voice of the Naga people,” said TKS.
“The Saklong appeals to the general public for their understanding and cooperation in sending a message, peaceful but powerful, that the voice of the Naga people will not be ignored. We stand firm in our commitment to defend our land, uphold our identity, and safeguard our future,” stated the press release of TKS.
S.W. Kaphungchui, President of Zingtun Tangkhul Katamnao Long (ZTKL), stated that “we wholeheartedly support the agitation led by TKS under the aegis of ANSAM.”
“We are here to support the agitation led by TKS under the aegis of ANSAM in picketing the government offices at Ukhrul District. We are totally against the scrapping of FMR and border fencing,” stated Shankhui Raikhan, President of Sagolmang Area Naga Students’ Association (SANSA).
Vice President of TKS, Omri Ningshen, lashed out at the government policy to fence the border and scrap the FMR. “We are holding the agitation under the banner of ANSAM against the colonial rules and policy applied by the Indian government as well as the Myanmar government. Our people have inhabited across the border since time immemorial, but the Indian government, without our consent, separates us and tries to divide our cultural unity, people’s unity, and our freedom, and we are totally against such a policy. To ascertain our rights, today we are carrying out this kind of agitation. Stop the border fencing, which will further divide our people. We will fight until our rights are restored.”
A citizen of Ukhrul, Worthing Horam, stated that “as a Naga citizen, I also support the agitation organised by ANSAM and TKS. This is one of the issues where Nagas across the border have been divided artificially, and it is a clarion call to all the Nagas to come together and oppose the border fencing as well as the scrapping of FMR.”
“Reinstate FMR”, “No fence between families”, “Stop the sinister policy of the Government of India to further divide Naga homeland”, “Stop imposed border fencing construction across Naga homeland”, etc., were some of the posters displayed during the first day of the agitation.