UKHRUL: The Naga Students’ Organization (NSO) has expressed deep concern over the continued construction and expansion of border fencing across Naga ancestral lands, stating that it threatens the unity, cultural continuity, and inherent rights of the Naga people.
In this context, the Naga public in Myanmar has collectively decided not to attend or participate in the Pangsau Pass International Festival (PPIF), held in Nampong Town, India, from January 20–22, despite the long-standing tradition of joint participation by communities from both sides of the border.
The NSO has appreciated the principled stand taken by the United Tangshang Naga Council (UTNC), describing the decision as a peaceful, responsible, and dignified assertion of indigenous rights.
The boycott is a response to the continued border fencing that divides Naga families and villages, despite repeated appeals by local residents for its withdrawal. The lack of consideration by the Government of India, the statement stated, has caused deep emotional distress and carries the risk of unnecessary conflict. The decision to abstain, however, is a peaceful expression of the people’s collective will to seek respect for indigenous dignity and rights.
During the festival period, the Naga public in Myanmar resolved to refrain from travelling to or attending the PPIF, crossing the border through any route, and to conduct trade or meetings with relatives and visitors strictly within their respective territories. These measures, the statement clarified, apply only for the duration of the festival and reflect the collective will of the people, which all are expected to respect.
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Reiterating its commitment to peace, justice, and Naga unity, the NSO emphasized that development, security, or international cooperation cannot come at the cost of indigenous rights and dignity.