Nagaland Assembly likely to pass resolution against suspension of Free Movement Regime

KOHIMA — The 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) is likely to pass a resolution against the Centre’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fence the Indo-Myanmar border, on March 1.

As legislators engaged in discussions on the matter day-3 of the ongoing budget session on Thursday, the potential consequences of the Centre’s actions were brought to light in view of the historical and cultural ties between the Naga people living on both sides of the border.

Initiating the discussion on Matters of Urgent Public Importance under Rule-50, MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu underscored that the Naga people had been living on their ancestral land, “with its own traditions and customs long before the birth of India that is August 15, 1947 and Burma (Myanmar) on January 4, 1948 as independent and sovereign nations”.

He went on to highlight how the FMR came into being between India and Myanmar, while terming the Centre’s decision ‘politically illogical’.

Nienu came down heavily on the argument that the FMR should be closed to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of the north-east.

“GoI blaming insurgency and drug peddling for closure of FMR are not valid grounds to me. I believe they have a hidden agenda and that is to check the influx of Christian population as the Hindus are minority in almost all the NE states,” he said while maintaining that these reasons are not strong and valid for removal of FMR.

Asserting that the division of the Nagas without any consultations in the 1950s was an injustice, he called for the NLA to pass a resolution requesting the GoI to consult all state governments or stakeholders before taking a final call; to regulate a system and adopt stringent law in checking insurgency and drug peddling, instead of fencing the borders.

Speaking on behalf of the JDU legislature party, MLA Jwenga Seb said that the decision taken at the instance of certain state, without taking the views of the major stakeholders is tantamount to intentionally creating barriers among communities who share natural relationships. This, he said, would lead to disparities, severing the interactions of people who were forcefully put into two different nations.

Seb suggested that the state government urge the centre to reconsider its decision, taking into account the potential consequences on bilateral relations between India and Myanmar, advocating for a collaborative approach involving open dialogue with all the stakeholders, considering diverse perspectives, and seeking alternative solutions without compromising the principles of free movement.

MLA P Longon from Noklak district, whose tribes live on both sides of the border, urged the NLA to unite against the move to repeal the FMR, stating that it would not only divide the people, but also the land, which would be a loss for both the state and the nation.

He also maintained that unlike other border states, Nagaland does not have law and order problems along the border.

Other MLAs including Dr. Neisatuo Mero, who spoke on behalf of the Independent MLAs, and Achumbemo Kikon also, opposed the centre’s decision, with the former stating that it would divide the people.

Kikon endorsed the move for passing of a resolution and also a resolution for integrating of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas.

Supporting the call for passing a resolution, minister CL John opined that FMR should be kept as it is. ‘If the border is to be fenced at all, it should be from the traditional boundary of the Nagas, and if not, the Government of India should compensate the people whose property would have to be forgone stating that it would create a refugee situation,’ he said.

Similarly, minister KG Kenye emphasised the need to be rational and revisit history with a positive approach, and take the outcome forward with the Prime Minister of India and the head of the country in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, advisor K Konngam Konyak, whose constituency covers the border Longwa village, stated that there are no problems with Myanmar in Naga inhabited areas. He was of the view that fencing the border would not stop smuggling and insurgency. Instead, it would only divide the people, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister, TR Zeliang asserted that the Naga people were arbitrarily divided by an imaginary boundary lines demarcated between the two countries, with half of the Naga family residing on the other side of the border.

He claimed that the border areas are neglected by both governments of both the countries, and as a result, the areas became a safe sanctuary for ‘unwanted antisocial elements.’

He suggested that both the countries work out strategies to transform those land-locked areas by improving connectivity, strengthening security posts and administration system in sensitive pockets instead of constructing fences.

He expressed opposition against any further division of the Naga people, and claimed that the agenda behind the division of this border land of the Nagas is “precarious and unjustified.”

He went on to add that the issue of influx of illegal immigrants, like that of the Chins, Rohingyas, etc., into India has no similarity with the Naga issue. The Chin-Kuki-Meitei problem cannot be equated with the Naga situation because the Naga people have been living together peacefully, and the contention of Manipur cannot be compared with the Nagaland context because there is social harmony on both sides of the border, he maintained.

Zeliang called upon the GoI to develop a comprehensive and balanced approach for border management, because any unilateral decision to impose its arbitrary decision may have a deep negative impact.

He also supported the move for passing a resolution to vehemently convey the people’s opposition to the centre’s decisions.

Delivering the final remarks, Dy CM, Y Patton said that the state cabinet deliberated on the matter on Feb. 8, and it was decided that it would request the centre to continue the FMR and also to enact appropriate regulations and lay down processes for movement of people across the borders in close consultation with the people inhabiting the border areas of the state.

The cabinet also requested that the village council authorities are brought into the entire regulatory system of the FMR, he said, adding that the state government has conveyed its concern to the centre.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio did not participate in the discussion, but he made a remark while delivering the concluding remarks on the general discussions on the Budget. Supporting the move to pass a resolution, he said that the house is, “in unison, in one mind”.

“Maybe tomorrow (March 1), we will pass a resolution unanimously and will send it to the Government of India,” he added.