Ukhrul, Sep 3: The United Naga Council (UNC) announced on Tuesday that it will impose a trade embargo across Naga areas beginning midnight of September 8, escalating its opposition to India’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and proceed with border fencing along the Indo–Myanmar frontier.
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In a statement issued after its Presidential Council meeting on August 11, the UNC said that Nagas have repeatedly expressed their opposition to the “unilateral abrogation” of the FMR and the construction of border fencing “amidst Naga homeland.” The council pointed to a series of memoranda, rallies, and demonstrations submitted to the Government of India since January 2024, but accused New Delhi of maintaining an “indifferent attitude.”
The FMR had allowed tribes living along the porous border to travel up to 16 kilometers across either side without a visa, facilitating cross-border ties among the Naga and other indigenous communities. Its scrapping earlier this year, followed by reports of fencing work along the border, has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and political bodies in the region.
“The indifferent attitude of the government demands a stringent agitation,” the UNC said, describing the embargo as a collective defense of “homeland, identity, and inherent rights over our land.”
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The trade blockade, if enforced, is expected to significantly affect the flow of goods into and out of Naga-dominated districts of Manipur, which rely heavily on road transport routes. The council has called for “utmost cooperation and solidarity” from Naga communities in Manipur and across borders, while appealing for understanding from the wider public in the state.