Kuki-Zo, Naga groups join hands to oppose Centre's plan to fence Indo-Myanmar border

Guwahati: As the Centre reportedly deployed additional forces to fence the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur, two prominent organisations representing the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities on Wednesday vowed to jointly fight against the move.

Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO) and Nagaland Indigenous People's Forum (NIPF) issued a joint statement saying that by fencing the border despite opposition from the ethnic communities living on both sides of the border, the Centre is risking further alienation and marginalisation of the communities.

"This disregard for the concerns of the indigenous communities underscores the insensitivity of the government towards its own people. When the fence cuts through villages, it not only divides their homelands but also imposes restrictions on traditional practices and interactions with their counterparts across the border, further eroding their cultural identity," said the statement.

The two organisations said the Centre deployed additional forces along the border in Chandel, Tengnoupal and Churachandpur district in conflict-hit Manipur to enforce their decision to fence the border. The two organisations have been campaigning for "unification" of the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities living on both sides of the border.

Demand in Manipur

The Kuki-Zo communities roared in anger after Home Minister Amit Shah announced in February that the 1,643km Indo-Myanmar border would be fenced in order to prevent illegal migration. Shah's announcement came amid the Meitei-Kuki conflict in Manipur and the growing demand by the Meiteis to fence the border.

Meiteis claim that an open border allowed the Kukis to cross the border and illegally settle on the hills of Manipur. This, they said, has posed a threat to the identity and culture of the majority Meiteis over the years and also aided the militants and the smugglers.

Shah also said the Free Movement Regime (FMR) system that allowed ethnic communities living within 16-km on both sides of the border to visit without a Visa, was also ended to prevent illegal migration.

But the Kuki, Mizos and Nagas are opposed to the move saying fencing the border would mean dividing the communities living on both sides, who share ethnic ties. Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share the border with Myanmar.