Imphal: A large-scale protest rally and a 12-hour shutdown have gripped the 41-Chandel and 42-Tengnoupal constituencies, commencing at 6 am on February 12.
Organized by the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO) in collaboration with its affiliated units, NSUC and NCAC, the demonstration vehemently opposes the Indo-Myanmar border fencing and the abolition of the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
The 12-hour shutdown has garnered substantial support from the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), further amplifying the protest’s impact.
The protest is currently underway at three strategic locations—Lamringkhuw, Chakpkarong, and Chandel headquarters, where demonstrators are actively voicing their concerns and demands.
Key demands of the protesters include the protection of ancestral Naga territories, citing Article 3 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which emphasizes the safeguarding of indigenous sovereignty and territorial rights.
The CNPO and its affiliates are strongly advocating for the restoration of cross-border movement rights, emphasizing that the abolition of the FMR poses a significant threat to cultural distinctiveness and indigenous autonomy, rights protected under Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Furthermore, the protesters are urging the government to expedite peace negotiations, advocating for a dialogue-driven resolution in accordance with Article 33 of the United Nations Charter, which underscores the importance of peaceful dispute settlements.
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