Kuki-Zo Village Chiefs Declare “Total Non-Cooperation” Against Border Fencing

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Imphal
• Sep 29, 2025
• 399

In a sharp escalation of opposition to the Government of India’s border fencing drive, sixteen Kuki-Zo village chiefs along the Indo-Myanmar frontier on Monday declared “total non-cooperation,” rejecting land compensation and negotiations until their political demands are met and peace is restored in Manipur.

“This is not about money—it is about our rights, our land, and our survival,” the chiefs said in a strongly worded communiqué. They argued that the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the push for border fencing pose a grave threat to the identity, mobility, and ancestral lands of borderland communities.

The chiefs noted that their appeals through memorandums, press releases, and rallies have gone largely ignored. They also cited the United Naga Council’s (UNC) earlier objections, which failed to produce any consensus with government representatives.

Declaring a policy of non-cooperation, the chiefs vowed to:

Reject all land compensation,

Refuse participation in negotiations, and

Withhold recognition of fencing activities in their areas.

They further demanded the immediate suspension of construction work and withdrawal of security forces and equipment from affected villages to avert further tensions.

“This is not merely a compensation issue—it is a fight for our political rights and the protection of our people on the Indo-Myanmar frontier,” the statement emphasized.

The collective declaration marks the most uncompromising stance yet from tribal leaders, raising fears of a potential flashpoint unless New Delhi reconsiders its fencing project.