Liangmai Chiefs Back FNCC, Say ‘No More Compromise’ on Naga Land, Demand Action on Kuki Encroachment

Imphal, July 18: The Eastern Liangmai Naga Chief Chairman Association (ELNCCA) has come out strongly in support of the Foothills Naga Co-Ordination Committee (FNCC), voicing deep concerns over what it calls deliberate land encroachment and security threats in Indigenous Naga territories.

In a press release issued Friday, the ELNCCA said it fully endorses the three demands raised by the FNCC, which it described as “legitimate and rightful.” According to the association, these demands reflect the shared fears and aspirations of Indigenous Naga communities across the region.

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What has alarmed the group most is the alleged renaming of roads and places within Naga ancestral lands, actions they claim are being carried out without consultation and with hidden motives.

“These changes are not just inappropriate. They violate the cultural, historical, and territorial rights of the Naga people,” the association said, warning that such unilateral moves must be condemned and reversed.

The ELNCCA also pointed to what it described as a long-standing betrayal of goodwill. It recalled how their forefathers, guided by Christian values, had once offered refuge to Kuki communities fleeing persecution in Burma. But over the years, that hospitality, the association claims, has been misused, turning into a slow, steady push into Naga territory.

Official records and historical evidence, they say, clearly show this pattern of encroachment. “This is not just a concern anymore. It’s a threat, and we will not compromise any further,” the ELNCCA stated.

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The association is now urging the Government of India to take urgent action, placing three key demands on record:
1. Dismantle all SoO camps, which they claim have been set up illegally on Naga lands.
2. Stop the renaming of roads and places without Indigenous consultation.
3. Halt plans for new SoO camps near foothill villages, particularly around the proposed Haflong-Imphal National Highway, warning it could provoke future conflict.

The association didn’t stop there. It also appealed to certain Kuki organizations, including the Young Kuki group and the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council, to refrain from provocative statements and actions that could threaten fragile peace in the region.

“In the past, tensions have flared unnecessarily, followed by patchwork reconciliation efforts,” the statement noted. “We have shown patience. We have shown forgiveness. But the line must now be drawn.”

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While reaffirming their commitment to peace, rooted in Christian faith, the ELNCCA sent a firm message: “Any attempt to distort or expand territorial claims under the guise of peace will not be tolerated. It will be firmly resisted.”

The Liangmai chiefs ended with a call for justice, peace, and wisdom, but made it clear that they are no longer willing to stay silent when it comes to their land, identity, and dignity.