UNC reiterates its stance on District Creation, Border Fencing, FMR at Lui-Ngai-Ni

Senapati, 15 Feb: The United Naga Council (UNC) while denouncing the Manipur High Court decision, has reiterated its position loud and clear to roll back the newly created seven districts of Manipur that were created on the 18th of December, 2016 without the informed consent and knowledge of the Nagas- dishonoring the 4 MoUs, and the assurance of the Govt of India. This was stated by the UNC President at the Lui-Ngai-Ni festival at Senapati district headquarters.

The President stated that the tripartite talk between the Govt. of Manipur, the Govt. of India, and the UNC was held ten times and was halted for 66 months in the past. However, upon the persistence of UNC, the talks resumed again on the 11th of October, 2024 in New Delhi and have reached the third round with A.K Mishra, Advisor NE, taking over the talk in-charge, representing the Govt. of India and in the last round of talks was held on the 30th of January, 2025, which has agreed that a proposal on the rollback will be presented in the next round of tripartite talk scheduled to be held in the month of April, 2025. The UNC President stated that the upcoming talk will be a crucial one and any consequences will be determined by the outcome of the meeting.

Related | UNC Reiterates Stance Against Border Fencing; Blames GoI & GoM for any Eventuality

Internal differences, contradictions, and disagreements over many internal issues amongst the people have become a global phenomenon that has penetrated Naga society and much more, in the Naga family, yet when it comes to Naga nationhood, no one can deny that Nagas are one people and one nation and as such, the Nagas can never be divided by any artificial district, state or international boundaries, the President mentioned.

The UNC has repeatedly written to the Govt. of India opposing the border wall fencing through the Naga inhabited areas and after physical inspection by the UNC team along with the village authorities of the impacted areas and earlier gave out a press statement on the 16th of January, 2025 stating the Nagas never agreed the bilateral agreement made between India and Myanmar that delimited and demarcated the Naga areas by drawing artificial imaginary lines without the informed consent of the Naga villagers. The proposed imaginary borderline fencing in the middle of the Naga area, ignoring the traditional boundary with Myanmar is not acceptable.  Subsequently, the UNC issued a directive to CNPO and TNL to initiate necessary Stringent steps to prevent the construction activities at their respective jurisdictions, and accordingly, CNPO Organised a mass rally and a total shutdown in the Tengnoupal area and Chandel District on the 12th of February, 2025.

“To scrap the Free Movement Regime and enforce border fencing through Naga inhabited areas is not just a policy shift but a direct attack on the rights and dignities of the Nagas,” the UNC President stated.

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The Govt. of India’s sudden interest in the border fencing under the guise of national security appears to be a calculated move to further fragment and weaken the Naga people, Lorho stated adding such systematic oppression of the colonial powers that divide the Nagas by artificial borders is deepened again by the Govt. of India. It would be wrong if the Govt. of India perceived the Naga Political issue as a threat to India’s security, but rather they should contemplate it as a means for peace and security in the region and the country at large, the UNC President mentioned.

The Nagas genuinely hope that the long-awaited Indo-Naga political settlement, based on the Framework Agreement will soon come to pass to a logical conclusion.

In this given situation, the Nagas should be extra cautious and should neither succumb to any kind of piecemeal solution to further fragment the Nagas, nor to any evil game plan designed to drag the Nagas into conflict, Lorho stated.

The UNC President also urged the Nagas not to forget that the greatest strength lies in unity, love, cooperation, and understanding among people.

Also read | Chandel, Tengnoupal Nagas rally against Border Fencing, FMR Scrapping; Kuki Body Extends Support