A delegation from the United Naga Council (UNC) has raised deep concerns regarding the government’s decision to unilaterally revoke the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and proceed with the construction of fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border in areas they identify as traditional Naga land. The council strongly believes that such actions disregard the historical and cultural significance of their ancestral territories, which they argue must be respected when implementing any form of border regulation or fencing initiative.
On Saturday, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla made an appeal for peace and urged restraint among all parties involved, especially as the United Naga Council reiterated its opposition to the ongoing fencing work. The UNC emphasized that they would only accept border fencing if it was aligned with what they recognize as the traditional boundaries of Naga-inhabited regions. This statement was issued during a meeting at Raj Bhavan, where a delegation of the UNC, led by its president Ng Lorho, formally presented their concerns to the Governor.
Following the meeting, Ng Lorho addressed the press and clarified the council’s position, stressing that their objection was not to the concept of border fencing itself, but rather to the location where it is being carried out. He explained that the fencing built across the Naga lands is unacceptable to the community and warned that the council would persist with its agitation until the government respects their demand. Lorho also stated that the UNC’s decision to continue its protest was firm and would not depend on whether the group was invited for further rounds of dialogue.
Governor Bhalla, in response, assured the UNC leaders that their grievances had been forwarded to the Union Home Ministry for consideration. He urged them to maintain peace and avoid escalation while official discussions are underway. Furthermore, another round of talks would take place within the next three days in order to seek a resolution that might ease the growing tensions between the council and the authorities.
The opposition of the UNC to the border fencing project is not a sudden development. Since August 11, the council has been vocal in its resistance, going so far as to warn of “stringent action” if the government fails to respond to its concerns within a stipulated fifteen-day period. This latest round of objections highlights the continued strain surrounding the Indo-Myanmar border project, which has increasingly emerged as a sensitive flashpoint in the region.
Manipur, which shares a 398-kilometer border with Myanmar, has seen limited progress in fencing work so far. Out of the total stretch, only about 9 kilometers of fencing has been completed in the Moreh area. An additional 21 kilometers of fencing, along with road construction, is currently in progress. The Free Movement Regime, originally designed to allow residents to cross up to 40 kilometers into either side of the border without a visa, had already been reduced to 16 kilometers in 2004, though it continues to remain in effect today.
At the heart of the dispute lies a broader sentiment among Naga groups, who insist that their historical rights to traditional lands must never be undermined or disregarded. They argue that border security measures, while important, should not come at the cost of violating long-standing cultural, social, and territorial identities that define their community. This growing unease has added to the complexity of an already delicate border issue, further intensifying the challenges faced by both local authorities and the central government in addressing the concerns of indigenous groups while implementing national security projects.
