The United Naga Council (UNC) has strongly opposed the ongoing construction of the Indo-Myanmar border fencing in Naga areas, calling it a violation of their traditional boundaries and an affront to their rights.
Despite repeated appeals to the Government of India and the Union Home Ministry, the construction continues, exacerbating tensions in the region. United Naga Council has produced a compilation of facts and data against the scraping of Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the ongoing Imposed Border Fencing.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Question No-1. Which specific Naga villages are being directly impacted by the newly constructed fence and by the scrapping of the Free movement Regime?
➢ Naga villages which are directly impacted by the newly constructed fence and by the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime are stated as follows:
1) MARING NAGA VILLAGES
i. Nongkam Satang
ii. Choptong
iii. Wakshu
iv. Phaisan
v. Shangtong
vi. Changrinphai
vii. Moirengthel (Pillar No.81 to 89)
2) ANAL NAGA VILLAGES:
i. Thangbung Minou
ii. Nakala Anal village(across the border)
iii. Libung
iv. Duthang
v. Laruwng
vi. Vamku
vii. Darchol
3. LAMKANG VILLAGES:
i. Betuk Sengkreng
ii. Kotal Khunthak
iii. Paraolon
iv. Challong
V. Larong Khunou
vi. Angbrasu
vii. Kongpe
viii. Thamlapokpi
ix. Thamlakhuren
X. Lamkang Khunou
4) MOYON NAGA VILLAGES:
i. Naphun Moyon village(across the border in Myanmar
ii. Mangkung village ( on Indian side) (Pillar no 76, 77 & 78)
5) TANGKHUL VILLAGES:
i. Khayang
ii. Kachouphung
iii. Kashung
iv. Chatric
v. Chahong Khunou
vi. Ramphoi
vii. Kangpat Khullen
viii. Skipe
ix. Choro/Chingshophai
x. KAKA
xi. Namli
xii. Wangli
xiii. Aloyo
xiv. Pilong
xv. Shangkalok
xvi. Sihai Khunou
xvii. Sihai Khullen
xviii. Kahaophung
xix. Wahong
xx. Khamasom Khayangkho
xxi. Khamasom Phungrei
xxii. Huishu
xxiii. Poi
xxiv. Challou
xxv. Tusom Cv
xxvi. New Tusom
xxvii. Tusom Khullen
xxviii. Kuingai
Moreh & Tamu
Moreh And Tamu: Till the early 1990s, Moreh and Tamu were largely populated by Tangkhul, Maring and Anal, but many of them migrated after the Naga-Kuki clash.
ACROSS THE BORDER (Myanmar)
There are approximately 31 Tangkhul Villages in SOMRA TRACT across the border in Myanmar who is directly impacted by abrogation of FMR.
Question No -2. Are there documented cases of families now separated by the newly sections of the fence?
➢ Yes, there are few Anal families who have been separated physically by the border fencing.
Question No-3. How are the fence and the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime affecting social cohesion?
➢ The Tangkhul Naga, Maring Naga, Mayon Naga, Lamkang Naga & Anal Naga residing along the imaginary Indo-Myanmar borders share deep socio-cultural and familial ties with our brethren across the border in Myanmar. Border communities often belong to the same ethnic group, and FMR allow them to maintain familial, religious and social connection. These bonds predate the colonial demarcation of boundaries and are intrinsic to our identity, traditions, and way of life.
DISRUPTIONS
Question No -4. What specific social, economic, or cultural activities have been affected by the suspension of the Free Movement Regime?
➢ Scrapping of FMR in recent times across Nagalim sectors stretching from North of Moreh town to Tusom-Wahong stretch has severed social and cultural ties mainly celebration of festivals, rites and rituals, marriages, funerals and educational tours.
Economically, our livelihoods are significantly interwoven with cross border interactions. As a matter of fact, FMR and border fencing has impacted our economic activities to a great extent as it has disrupted the traditional trade routes, preventing from accessing our ancestral lands for terrace and jhum cultivation, foraging for food including medicinal plants. It has also curtailed the migrations and movement of wild animals and fragmenting their population, thereby, directly affecting the mortality of large animals.
Question No-5. How has the fence and scrapping of the FMR impacted the ability to maintain these cultural practices?
➢ Exchange of cultural practices cannot be carried out unless there is free movement.
Question No-6. Have trade routes or local economic exchanges been shut down or severely disrupted by the fence and scrapping of the FMR?
➢ Already stated in answer no.4
Question No-7. Are there any notable supply chain disruptions or loss of livelihoods?
➢ Certainly, there are notable supply chain disruption along the artificial Indo-Myanmar borders and thus resulting in loss of livelihoods in many border stretches.
CONSULTATION AND DECISION MAKING
Question No-8. Were Naga villages or organisations consulted prior to the decision to build the fence?
➢ No. The fence is being constructed arbitrarily without the informed consent of the villagers and CSOs.
Question No-9. If so, please describe the nature and depth of this consultation. If not, what efforts were made to seek engagement?
➢ Not consulted at any point of time but the CSOs have made considerable attempts to create a room for consultation which was never taken into consideration.
COMMUNITY PROPOSALS
Question No-10. How have different Naga civil society and human rights organisations responded to the scrapping of FMR and the fence?
➢ Organisations like the UNITED NAGA COUNCIL, a conglomeration of 20 tribes and its associate units (the apex body of the present Manipur state), Naga Women Union (NWU) based in Manipur, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (South), All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), District apex bodies viz,Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and frontal organisations of Ukhrul District, Naga Peoples Organisation and frontal organisations of undivided Senapati district, undivided Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO) and its frontal organisations, Joint Tribal Council of undivided Tamenglong District and its frontal organisations, Headmen/Chief Associations have responded against scrapping of FMR and construction of fence by way of democratic agitation like mass rally, sit in protest, picketing of government institutions, and submission of memoranda to the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, UN and UNPO ever since the proposed plan became active in the early part of 2024.
Global Naga Forum (GNF), Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) are also catalysts and ardent supporters against scrapping of FMR and construction of fences.
Question No-11. Have Naga villages or Organisation proposed alternatives to fencing? If so, how have these proposals been communicated and how have they been received by Indian authorities?
➢ Many civil organisations and legislators have proposed to initiate other feasible mechanism or redraw the artificial Indo-Myanmar boundary line with the informed consent and knowledge of the impacted Naga villages to ensure that human rights are not infringed and violated. Clear messages in this regard have been communicated through memoranda and personal interview with the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Bhalla on May 2, 2025. Assurance in this regard has been given to the UNC delegates that the proposal will be flagged to the Home Ministry & External Affairs.
Unfortunately, no tangible result is in the offing. The Government of India is still evasive and buying time.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SECURITY
Question No-12. What is the current policy or approach of Indian border security forces toward Naga fleeing violence in Myanmar? Are there recorded cases of refoulement (forced return) pushbacks or denial of entry?
➢ Naga fleeing violence in Myanmar are received by the border security forces at a designated camp after details have been taken by the biometric system. There are reports of selective denial and intimidation at the sporadic area of operation although there is no official report of forced pushback or denial of entry for those groups fleeing to Manipur from Myanmar.
Question No-13. Are there reception or support mechanisms in place for Naga refugees from Myanmar?
➢ There is a temporary support mechanism in place where all refugees are allowed to harbour in a makeshift camps. The Deputy commissioner of the impacted district is assigned to monitor the situation and ensure that basic needs and humanitarian aids are provided to all the fugitives fleeing from Myanmar. The district administration with the police department is involved in obtaining/capturing biometrics who are languishing in the relief camps set up in Naga villages. There are society, organisations, churches and other groups who are providing humanitarian assistance for all displaced communities.
However, there is no support mechanism exclusively for Naga fugitives who are impacted by the armed conflict.
Question-14. Have there been reported instances of harassment, violence, or human rights abuses at the newly fenced sections?
➢ Indigenous peoples in particular those divided by the artificial Indo-Myanmar International borders have been denied to maintain familial contacts and they are prevented from carrying out socio- economic activities. Thus violating Article 36 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007.
The newly fenced sections are heavily militarised by the Assam Rifles and other Indian military forces with several check points. As a matter of fact, the area where border fencing construction is being carried out at SATANG is sparsely populated by the Maring Nagas. There are reports of untold human sufferings and inconveniences arising out of the massive military mobilization in the vicinity of the fencing area causing great concern due to the adverse collateral socio-environmental impact on the flora and fauna, economic activities; and intimidation to the native inhabitants, etc.
In the Tangkhul Naga villages along the imaginary Indo-Myanmar borders, excesses of army personnel and instances of human rights abuses among other things includes: –
• Border areas are highly militarised and thus preventing free movement.
• Resource exploitation by the refugees and security threat to the native population
• Mental harassment to the native Naga villagers by the Indian army personnel at check points.
• Open support to PDF and KNA-B
• 15 check posts within the vicinity of Kamjong areas.
The massive inflow of “refugees” from Myanmar with the exception of the Nagas, who are temporarily taking shelter in SATANG and KAMJONG areas since 2023 in the aftermath of the political upheaval in Myanmar, following the coup in 2021; and the subsequent fall of Thanan in Myanmar’s Sagaing region have created unbearable hardships to the villagers of that areas. The inmates being harboured in 8 Tangkhul Naga villages and Maring Naga villages within the vicinity of SATANG area numbering 5457 (registered) have outnumbered the total residents. Increasing anti-social activiries have become the order of the day with numbers of inmates fluctuating between daytime and at night in these makeshift camps.
The modus operandi of the Indian armed forces is palpable of their connection with PDF and KNA-B as they let loose without interference but keep an eye on the movement of the Nagas.
(This is a compilation by the United Naga Council)
