Mon (Nagaland), April 7 (ANI): The Government of India’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and construct a border fence along the Indo-Myanmar border has caused distress among residents of Longwa Village, especially its tribal chief, Tonyei Phawang, the Chief Angh.
Longwa, a unique village that straddles both India and Myanmar, is home to around 6,000 people, mostly from the Konyak Naga tribe. Chief Phawang, who is the 10th-generation Angh, told ANI that the decision to curtail cross-border movement and erect fencing would divide families, disrupt livelihoods, and erase centuries-old cultural ties.
“We are now sitting at the Burma side, with the post in the kitchen demarcating the boundary,” he said, highlighting the unusual geography of the Angh’s own house, which lies half in India and half in Myanmar.
Key Concerns Raised by Chief Angh:
- 35 villages under his leadership are affected—30 lie in Myanmar, and 5 in India.
- Myanmar villagers rely on Longwa for markets, education, and healthcare.
- Families and communities on both sides of the border have always lived as one people, regardless of geopolitical divisions.
- He fears losing his people and land to the fence, as the majority of his community lives across the border.
Chief Phawang recalled a past plan during the SC Jamir government in 1987-88 to establish an international trade center at Longwa, a project that never materialized. Instead of development, the region now faces disruption and disconnection, he said.
“We are Indians, and we are Burmese. We request and have been praying for peace. Please do not divide us. Let us live as we have always lived,” he appealed.
A Glimpse Into the Chief’s Life:
Phawang, whose grandfather had 60 wives, now has two wives—one from Arunachal Pradesh and one from Longwa—and nine children. He emphasized the interconnectedness of the region through marriage and family.
While he holds the traditional title of Chief, Phawang described his life as one of manual labor and farming, unlike government employees who draw regular salaries. He praised his wives, who support the family by making and selling traditional crafts like necklaces, jewelry, and swords.
“Nowadays, Anghs suffer more than in the olden days,” he remarked, reflecting on the economic challenges of modern tribal life.
The Chief’s appeal adds to the growing chorus from border communities who feel that fencing and ending the FMR threatens their identity, economy, and unity.
(ANI)
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