The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) along with the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM), the Naga Students’ Union Chandel (NSUC) and its federating units visited border villages in Tengnoupal district on Tuesday with regards to Free Movement Regime (FMR).
Organised by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), the apex body of all Naga student bodies in the Northeast, the visit was held under ‘Reconnaissance Mission to Chandel and Ukhrul on Abrogation of FMR’ under the theme “Safeguarding Naga Homeland: Breaking Barriers & Shadow Lines”
It is being held from October 21-25, 2024.
During their visit on Tuesday, the Naga student bodies visited border pillar No. 82 near Nongkham Satang village and took stock of the situation. They also met with the village authorities of Nongkham Satang and Choktomg villages.
During such interaction, Peter, chairman of Choktong Village Authority, informed that there were 690 refugees in their village of which biometric verification was done only for 290. He also informed that the refugees were double the population of the village.
Addressing the interaction, NSF president Medovi Rhi said that the land we are standing here today belongs to the Nagas and nothing will take it away from us.
“Today, this land belongs to us, to all the Nagas. And because of some individual’s interest, we cannot compromise,” the NSF president said.
He also maintained that NSF and all Naga students and the people will be behind the villagers should they face any problems. The NSF will continue to fight for the cause of our land and we will protect it, he said.
Dangshawa Mopham, chairman of the N Satang Village Authority, said that as simple villagers they have no voice in the fencing issue but that they would support the decision of the UNC and other Naga bodies such as NSF.
Ruwnglar Elly Anal, president of NSUC, appreciated the NSF for their visit and said that such visits not only shows the importance of the border fencing issue but also encourages the Naga student bodies of Chandel and Manipur.
Raising his voice against the Centre’s move to remove the FMR through border fencing, Elly Anal said that it will only further divide the Nagas who have been fighting for their land and sovereignty, and that the Nagas will never accept the border fencing.
The NSF and ANSAM members are headed to Ukhrul where they will also visit border villages and look into the fencing issues.
