Sept 8 Trade Embargo in Naga Areas: UNC Calls for Solidarity

Imphal, September 7: On the eve of imposing what it calls “trade embargo in Naga areas”, the United Naga Council (UNC) said that this “trade embargo” is the beginning of the Naga peoples’ non cooperation movement that will be “relentlessly” followed by many such actions until “our grievances” are addressed satisfactorily.

Following the failure of the talk on the issues of Free Movement Regime (FMR) and border fencing between the United Naga Council (UNC) led Naga organisations and the representatives of the Government of India on August 26 in Delhi, the UNC will impose “trade embargo in Naga areas” under its jurisdiction from the midnight of September 8, 2025, until further notification. 

Giving the “rationale of the Naga peoples’ movement and the trade embargo in Naga areas” effective from September 8 midnight of 2025 on the issues of the Indo- Myanmar border and Free Movement Regime (FMR), the UNC said today that, following the February 6, 2024 decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, to fence the 1643 km long “imaginary boundary” between India- Myanmar and paving a patrol tract for surveillance along the border, the Cabinet Committee on Security has approved a proposal worth INR. 31,000 crores in March 2024, for the same. “If and when this project is materialised, more than 1000 (one thousand) km of Naga homeland along the so called three northeastern states of India namely Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh will be physically bifurcated cutting all ties with our own people of the east, Nagas of Burma/Myanmar”, said the UNC in a statement issued to Newmai News Network this evening.

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The FMR was conceptualized and implemented in 1950 and further restructured in 1968 allowing movement for inhabitants across both sides of the border without visa, the UNC statement mentioned. The territorial limit of free movement of people was up to 40 km then. The limit was reduced to 16 km in 2004. In February 2024 FMR was entirely suspended. The MHA in December finalised a fresh protocol to regulate the movement of people and limited the distance radius to only within 10 km of the unfenced international border, the UNC statement also said. During the dialogue between the United Naga Council (UNC) and Government of India on August 26, 2025 in New Delhi, the later opined that security concerns of India is paramount and that abrogation of FMR and border fencing are necessitated to check illegal immigrants, smuggling of drugs and proliferation of firearms from across the border, the UNC also said. “And hence, the Government of India has stated to implement the project as planned without considering the traditional land rights of the Nagas. Fencing work has begun in the Nagas’ land of Chandel district (Tengnoupal areas), Manipur,” it added.

On the ‘position of the Nagas’, the UNC alleged that the “imaginary international boundary” between India and Myanmar along the “Nagas homeland” was arbitrarily demarcated. The UNC also said, “Naga people straddling across the border did not recognize its legitimacy. There is no land boundary line between India and Myanmar within the Naga homeland”. In the west, the traditional land boundary of the “Naga nation” with others lies in the Brahmaputra basin and beyond the Chindwin river valley in the east, it further said. “Any negotiation for demarcation or regularization of international boundaries with the Naga people can be initiated based on the above historically verifiable stated position of the Nagas. Nagas will not accept any land alienation policy whatsoever”, the UNC asserted. 

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On the question of imposing a “trade embargo”, the UNC said the Free Movement Regime is a necessary evil that the Naga people have lived with for so many years now. Like any other “oppressive legislation” of the Government of India, it is a deliberate ploy to harass and alienate the inhabitants living in close proximity along the areas where it is enforced, it further said. “Why should one seek permission to move freely in their own backyard or be under constant surveillance?”, it asked, adding, “It violates all civility and fairness norms in the conduct of a sane and democratic society. It is a reflection of insensitivity and hatred towards not only Naga people but humanity as a whole”. 

 The UNC then said the sole motives to adhere to such questionable regime is to usurp and divide “our land, people and discredit the Naga movement for our birthright, an attempt to curb and impede the growth, progress of the Nagas, dishonouring and defiling the UN Declaration on the Rights of IPs of 2007 that affirms to respect the rights of free movement for Indigenous people living across international borders”. The UNC also said, “Not content with continued implementation of the invasive FMR, the Government of India has decided to erect concrete barriers to permanently curb physical connections and mobility between kindred Nagas impacting their culture and ancestry in their own land. This is an inhuman act”. 

The UNC then said that the demand of the Naga people is that a free, prior and informed consent of the Naga people must be obtained for any project affecting the Nagas and their land. It also demanded that no imposition of movement restrictions along the so called international Indo-Myanmar border. It further demanded to stop detention, harassment and surveillance activities along the imaginary border areas within the Naga homeland. The UNC also demanded for abrogation of the border fencing project across the “Naga homeland”. It then demanded from the Government of India for “earnestly pursue the Indo- Naga peace process and focus on early settlement”. 

While making an appeal for solidarity and participation, the UNC said that, though the Naga people were caught at the receiving end of an onslaught continuously, “we have withstood the forces of tyranny that seeks to destroy us”. The abrogation of FMR and planned border fencing project of the Government of India is an ill-intended policy aimed at weakening our movement for oneness and freedom, it also said. “Now that the cover is blown, we know we would be in big trouble if we do not resist this grand divisive plan. At stake is the survival of the Naga people as a nation. This is again a declaration of war on the Naga people and hence we have rightly resolved to rise to the occasion”, the UNC said. It added that every Naga has understood the possible implications and enormity of the situation “we are in right now”. Hence, the United Naga Council  urged all Nagas to remain vigilant and stand firm together as “we resist this gross injustice”. 

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The UNC then said that the demand of the Naga people is that a free, prior and informed consent of the Naga people must be obtained for any project affecting the Nagas and their land. It also demanded that no imposition of movement restrictions along the so called international Indo-Myanmar border. It further demanded to stop detention, harassment and surveillance activities along the imaginary border areas within the Naga homeland. The UNC also demanded for abrogation of the border fencing project across the “Naga homeland”. It then demanded from the Government of India for “earnestly pursue the Indo- Naga peace process and focus on early settlement”. 

While making an appeal for solidarity and participation, the UNC said that, though the Naga people were caught at the receiving end of an onslaught continuously, “we have withstood the forces of tyranny that seeks to destroy us”. The abrogation of FMR and planned border fencing project of the Government of India is an ill-intended policy aimed at weakening our movement for oneness and freedom, it also said. “Now that the cover is blown, we know we would be in big trouble if we do not resist this grand divisive plan. At stake is the survival of the Naga people as a nation. This is again a declaration of war on the Naga people and hence we have rightly resolved to rise to the occasion”, the UNC said. It added that every Naga has understood the possible implications and enormity of the situation “we are in right now”. Hence, the United Naga Council  urged all Nagas to remain vigilant and stand firm together as “we resist this gross injustice”. 

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As everyone is aware, said the UNC, “our serious concerns expressed through numerous memoranda, protest rallies and talks have been ignored by the Government of India”. The UNC then said the trade embargo imposed by the Nagas this time will impact everyone and may create inconveniences wherever it is implemented. “However, this democratic and non violent form of agitation is the expressed desire of the aggrieved Naga people and that we hope will eventually yield the desired result in good time”, it reasoned. It is the beginning of the Naga peoples’ non cooperation movement that will be relentlessly followed by many such actions until “our grievances” are addressed satisfactorily, the UNC also said. The Naga body further appealed to all “democratic organizations” and conscientious individuals to lend their “utmost” support and participate in this “movement for justice and the dignified future” of the Naga peoples. 

(Newmai News Network)