Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, May 23:
In a significant development reflecting the rising concerns of the hill tribal communities in Manipur, the apex tribal body, Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), has submitted a detailed memorandum to the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, addressing three critical issues: restoration of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), scrapping of border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, constitutional upgradation from the Vth to the VIth Schedule for the hill areas, and urgent approval for the augmentation of water supply to Ukhrul district headquarters.
TNL President Sword Vashum, in the memorandum, condemned the recent unilateral scrapping of the Free Movement Regime, terming it a grave injustice to the Nagas whose ancestral lands straddle the Indo-Myanmar border. Highlighting the colonial history that arbitrarily divided the Naga homeland, Vashum stated that “restoration and not removal of FMR is what would advance the cause of justice.” He further asserted that blaming the Nagas for the ongoing unrest and scrapping FMR under the guise of security concerns is not tenable and amounts to scapegoating.
The memorandum also strongly opposed the proposed border fencing project, stating it would further divide the Naga people and reinforce colonial-era relics. “Border fencing is a colonial manifestation that seeks to separate Nagas from Nagas,” the TNL warned, vowing to resist such moves “to the last.” The body argued that such physical divisions reduce indigenous peoples to captives in their own land.
On the constitutional front, TNL made a powerful appeal for the inclusion of the hill areas of Manipur under the VIth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The current placement under the Vth Schedule, they said, is discriminatory and outdated. “We tribals and Nagas in particular find ourselves having to survive, not live, at the mercies of the dominant valley community,” Vashum wrote, expressing disillusionment over the ineffective implementation of Article 371C. The memorandum called for an end to the “illusory promises” and demanded a clear and just political arrangement under the VIth Schedule to ensure self-governance and protection of tribal rights.
Additionally, the TNL urged the Governor to prioritize the augmentation of water supply for Ukhrul town from the perennial Khangkhui Khulen source. Citing an earlier memorandum submitted on May 6, the body emphasized the urgency of addressing the acute water shortage and requested the Governor’s intervention to ensure project implementation, preferably in his name as a mark of legacy.
The memorandum concluded with blessings for the Governor and a strong appeal for swift and just action on all fronts.