TKS Submits Memorandum to PM Modi, Demands Halt to Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing and Restoration of FMR

Ukhrul, June 20: The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), a prominent student and youth body representing the Nagas of Manipur, has submitted a detailed memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul district, urging the Government of India to immediately halt the ongoing construction of border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar Border (IBM) and to reinstate the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

The memorandum, titled “Earnest Prayer for Immediate Stoppage of the Ongoing Physical Fencing Construction along the Artificial Indo-Myanmar Border and Reinstatement of the Free Movement Regime”, stresses on the existential threat posed by the Government of India’s decision to scrap the FMR and erect physical barriers along what TKS calls an “arbitrarily imposed” international boundary that slices through ancestral Naga homelands.

“Important factual points are explained briefly below for your perusal consideration:

1. An arbitrary Imposed (imaginary) Indo-Myanmar Border (IBM) – A Historical Injustice to the Naga people:

It may be reminded that, in the 1950s, a grave historical injustice was slapped to the Naga people by arbitrarily dividing the Nagas’ homeland by the then Prime Minister Jawaharal Nehru and the then Prime Minister UN Nou is indeed a painful tyrant act to be recalled. Indisputably, Nagas have been living in our God’s given land since time immemorial in our own way having traditional system and customs much before the birth of India as a nation in 1947 and Myanmar erstwhile Burma in 1948 respectively as a sovereign people without any external dominance. Drawing of an imposed and imaginary International Boundary in the middle of our homeland without the informed consent of the locals which run along several Tribes belonging to the  Naga families was the cruelest treatment meted out to Nagas that violates all human rights and decency. Ironically, it runs through the house of Longwa village chief leaving the sleeping rooms in the Indian border and the kitchen area falling in  Mayanmar. It is ideal on the part of India as leading democracy and emerging super power in the world to respect the inherent rights of the people, be it minority like the Nagas and withdraw forthwith from repeating such tyranny in the modern society. 

2. Disruption of Peaceful Co-existence – Scrapping of FMR & Border Fencing:

As a matter of fact, since time immemorial, Naga villagers living across the border had been closely sharing all ties in terms of social, economical, cultural, religious, lands etc.  These bonds predate the colonial demarcation of boundaries and are integral to our identity, traditions, and way of life. As such, abrupt abrogation of FMR and construction of physical border fencing along the imaginary IBM has adversely impacted and disrupted the natural flow of community and familial interdependent relationship which is an intrinsic aged old tie of the people living straddle in border areas are at stake and facing a series of problems without any remedy. In many areas, there are instances of a family holding land on both sides of the border wherein, resulting in denial of access to their own ancestral lands. As mentioned, the arbitrary borderline of Indo-Mayanmar split the house of one Ang in Longwa, Konyak area. Consequently, the weight of its impacts will only fall upon the common civilians; it will amount to cross violation of human rights and the act of grave dehumanization. Indeed, this exercise is nothing less than ‘rubbing salt in the old wounds’ for the Nagas.

3. Collateral Damage Scrapping of FMR & Border Fencing – Disruption of Pristine Biodiversity:

The collateral damages of border fences not only affect people, but can also have unintended but dire consequences for wild life, inter- alia by curtailing migrations and other movements by fragmenting populations and by causing direct mortality to large carnivores and herbivores. The walls are blocking seasonal migrations of large animals, reducing genetic and species diversity and threatening the futures of millions of species that will need to move their domains to keep up with the changing climatic condition salubrious to them. It will surely destroy the biodiversity hotspots and the pristine ecosystem.

Such unabated menace being created by the policy makers sitting in the cozy room from distance without having the knowledge of actuality on the ground is highly uncalled for and needed to be reviewed thoroughly and rectified the wrong before doing much harm.

4. Scrapping of FMR & Border Fencing in the pretext of Drugs and Illegal Immigrants – An   Illogical Move:

The haphazard move of the government to scrap FMR and construction of border fencing on the pretext of checking drugs menace and illegal Immigrants is a total misconception and politically illogical as it has no historical bearing and a short sighted approach in nature that would cause a huge ramification. Further, the lop-sided narrative of the Government of India and the state government of Manipur for ending the FMR and the construction of Indo- Myanmar border fencing/wall along the imaginary borders has displeased many frontier communities. The Nagas are not convinced that the ending FMR and border fencing will serve any purpose due to the fact that there is neither a case of smuggling of arms and drugs nor an influx of illegal immigrants in Naga areas on both sides. While attempting to address the influx of illegal immigrants across the borders, state and union Government may find other mechanism to curb the menace by enacting and enforcing stringent laws like National Registration Citizenship (NRC) instead of scrapping FMR and construction of wall and fencing. Mention may be made that, as widely discussed, influx of immigrants and smuggling of drugs are the handy work of security forces especially Assam riffle in collusion with certain community, to which your MHA know best.  For all these, we implore your able leadership to end the hide and seek game employed by MHA and roll back the policy of scrapping FMR and construction of border fencing.  

5. Scrapping of FMR & Border Fencing – Contradiction to UNDRIP

India being ratified nation to the United Nation Declaration on the rights of Indigenous People should also respect without contradiction, what has guaranteed the rights for the peoples living straddle in the international borders as in Article 36; “Indigenous peoples, in particular those divided by international borders, have the rights to maintain, and develop contacts, relations and cooperation, including for spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social purposes, with their own members as well as others peoples across orders”.  Thus scrapping of FMR and forced construction of fencing amidst the Naga homeland is a sheer contradiction to the UNDRIP wherein the India is signatory to.

6. Way forward – Respecting Historical and Traditional Boundary

While respecting the sentiment of the government of India, we would like to put on record plainly that the plea of the Association is not an antithesis to the policy of India nor an anti-India campaign because respecting the historical and traditional boundary of Nagas in regard to IBM will serve a fair dividend to both the Nagas and the GoI in the long run, as we embark on the relationship of peaceful co-existence with mutual respect. Therefore, instead of symptomatic treatment over the chronic issues in the region, GoI must sincerely engage on the negotiating table to resolve the protracted Indo-Naga political issue logically based on Framework Agreement that would serve as a permanent solution to various problems and usher in peace in the north-eastern states of India.

Likewise, the FMR, which aims to facilitate local border trade, improve access to education and healthcare for denizens of border and strengthen diplomatic ties, should not be scrapped rather reinstate the same and enhance the coverage of 16 Kms to 40 Kms as it was in placed before in the Fifties. Apart from enacting laws and mechanisms for checking border menaces, the government may initiate a dialogue with local communities living along the borders to address their concerns and garner their cooperation for effective border management and explore alternatives to fencing.

7. Peoples’ Movement Against the Scrapping of FMR and Border Fencing:

Series of agitations, including public rally, demonstration, sit-in protest etc, has been ongoing since the government of India announced the scrapping of free movement regime and construction of border fencing by the Naga people in different areas on various occasions led by Naga civil apex bodies, women’s and student’s bodies, these protest have been taking place across various Naga areas on multiple occasions. Despite all these efforts, government of India remains unresponsive. Recently, the Association has concluded 48 hours picketing of government offices in all the Naga district headquarters from June 2-3, 2025 to register our sentiment against the government’s offensive move, which negates the spirit of Ceasefire Agreement and Framework Agreement between the government of India and NSCN. Fair and square, the Peoples’ Movement will be reverberating across Naga homeland until the GoI respect the rights and sentiments of the Naga people and meets our rightful demands. 

In the light of the above facts, we humbly place before your hon’ble self with earnest prayer for immediate stoppage of the ongoing physical border fencing construction work along the artificial Indo-Myanmar Border (IBM) running amidst the Naga ancestral domains and reinstatement of Free Movement Regime (FMR) with immediate effect. Further, implore your leadership with magnanimity to resolve the long standing Indo-Naga political conflict based on the 3^rd, August framework agreement to usher in peace and prosperity in the Northeastern region.“