Chandel/Ukhrul, June 1: In a show of solidarity, the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO) and the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) have issued separate but united press statements backing the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) in its call for a 48-hour office picketing protest across the Naga Hill Districts, starting June 2, 2025.
The Nagas of Manipur are vehemently opposing the Government of India’s move to revoke the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border and implement coercive border fencing, which they claim poses a direct threat to the ancestral lands, cultural heritage, and identity of the Naga people.
The CNPO on Sunday declared its unwavering support for ANSAM, citing past efforts to resist the policy, including a public rally and memorandum submission to the Manipur Governor on February 12, 2025. CNPO also pointed out the state’s silence on the matter as a continued disregard for Naga concerns as it reiterated its commitment by endorsing the 48-hour office picketing as “a testament to the unity and determination of the Naga people.”
Similarly, the TKS in a press release on Sunday, maintained that the picketing is a peaceful yet resolute protest against what it described as “arbitrary and insensitive” policies. It warned that the government’s actions not only undermine local autonomy but also strike at the “historical, social, and cultural fabric” of the Naga community.
Both the Naga bodies have urged the public to participate in the protest and hold accountable any entities aiding the fencing works.
CNPO key demands include:
- Immediate repeal of the imposed border fencing.
- Restoration of the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
- Accountability for entities supporting border fencing activities.
- Collective action to assert Naga rights and protect ancestral lands.
Calling the movement “peaceful but powerful,” both the Naga bodies reaffirmed that the Naga people’s rights, identity, and future would not be compromised.
“We stand firm in our commitment to defend our land, uphold our identity, and safeguard our future,” the statements concluded.
