MLA Leishiyo Keishing Writes to HM to Withhold Border Fencing

Ukhrul, April 2: Leishiyo Keishing MLA of 43-Phungyar Assembly Constituency on Wednesday has written a missive to Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, to withhold border fencing in Manipur, Indo-Myanmar international border.

MLA Leishiyo Keishing stated, “the public of the hill districts expresses their sincere appreciation and lauds the leadership of the hon’ble Chief Minister and all the Hon’ble members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly for the unanimous resolution taken on the implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur and various initiatives taken up by the state government aimed at safeguarding and promoting the welfare and interest of indigenous people of Manipur.

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“While doing so, strikingly on 8th February, 2024 the Hon’ble Union Home Minister announced that the Government of India has taken a decision that the entire border between India and Myanmar ranging approx. 1,643 km along the open and porous area in the states of Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram will be fenced. On the other hand, there are numerous enduring border disputes in the State of Manipur. Notwithstanding the fact that, without due knowledge and consent of the people, India signed an international boundary agreement with Myanmar on 10th March 1967 thereby imposing an artificially demarcated boundary on the people of the border areas. To date, many villages located at the border area vehemently oppose the agreement to date as vast portions of land belonging to indigenous people of Manipur have been lost to Myanmar. It is important to note that, during the colonial era, the erstwhile Naga Hills was also known as “secluded areas” meaning exploration was limited to areas deemed strategically important or economically viable leaving most of the areas unexplored. The British maps of the Naga Hills are marred by a distinct deficiency in understanding of the local culture and tribal dynamics often lacking accurate navigation and mapping leading to misrepresentations on maps as it does not accurately reflect tribal territories or significant landmarks important to local communities.

“This has unprecedentedly divided people, especially the Nagas, into two different countries i.e. India and Myanmar through the creation of boundary. Moreover, adding to the plight of the people, scrapping of FMR and fencing of borders will lead to further alienation of the people thereby completely cutting off historical, cultural, social and economic ties. These are in stark contravention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948 and the rights enshrined for the same people living across artificial borders.

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“Conspicuously, a vast portion of lands belonging to the Nagas are lost to neighbouring country Myanmar as a result of arbitrary boundary demarcations. Many of the Naga villages have vigorously claimed that, their forefathers used to take up agriculture and continued to avail benefits from the land and its natural resources recognizing it as their own traditional land. Up to the present time, many villages under Ukhrul and Kamjong district continue to depend on the resources across the present disputed boundary. Hitherto, the people belonging to border areas claim that their land extends till the Chindwin River in the south and in the upper part East bank and west bank of Chinwind river. The people stand firm in their opposition against the boundary laid by two different countries while stating that, till all the lost land are reclaimed, the government’s policy of border fencing shall not be implemented; forewarning of stiff resistance and occurrence of serious conflict until the border boundary demarcation is settled.

“In light of the above facts, the people of hills especially border villages have been expressing and voicing their dissent and discontentment since 1967 against the unethical border demarcation inherited from the British colonial era and the Congress government till today. The dispute should be solved via documentation, communique along with calls for open dialogues involving both concerned authorities from the Myanmar and Indian Government as well as local community leaders to find mutually beneficial solution. It is also noteworthy to mention that, series of border pillar and boundary surveys have been conducted in different districts of the state including the district administration, however no tangible and affirmative results have been accounted for to date.

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“Therefore, in order to redress the grievances of the public and this colossal injustice to the people and to further restore the land belonging to our people and state, the Hon’ble Union Home Minister is earnestly requested to kindly take up necessary steps for an amicable early resolution of the boundary dispute and put on hold the border fencing and scraping of FMR until the issue is solved in public interest.”

MLA Leishiyo Keishing on Wednesday attended the mass rally against scrapping of Free Movement Regime (FMR) and consequential border fencing at Ukhrul Headquarters on Wednesday, organised by Tangkhul Naga Long and Tangkhul Frontal Organisations under the aegis of United Naga Council. Thousands of people from different walks of life attended the rally.