WHY LONGWA MATTERS
• 6000 people practically living in both India & Myanmar under one Anghship, one Church, and one Administration
• 170 households, including Chief Angh's Residence ‘exactly on the boundary line’
• 8 jhum farmlands and 2 forest reserves, equally divided between India & Myanmar
Source: Chief Angh of Longwa Village
Will not accept idea 'in any circumstances': Longwa Chief Angh
Longwa, February 1 (MExN): In the strongest opposition to the proposal to abolish the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and erect fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, the Chief Angh of Longwa Village under Mon district today stated that the people would not accept the idea “under any circumstances.”
If the Government of India (GoI) executes the plan, the occupants living along the border will be adversely affected in multiple ways, Longwa Chief Angh Tonyei Phawang stated in a press communiqué.
“Especially in the case of Longwa village, since we are scattered on both sides, our separation by the erection of a border fence is something we never thought of, and in any circumstances, we will not accept the idea,” he asserted.
The assertion assumes significance as Longwa, a strategically located border village, is home to “approximately 6000 people practically living in both countries, but under one Anghship, one Church, and one Administration.”
“As per recent records, there are 990 households in Longwa Village, scattered on both Indian and Myanmar Territories,” Chief Angh informed.
“Exactly on the boundary line,” there are 170 households, including Chief Angh's Residence, Government Primary School, Church, Assam Rifles Post, Shops, and other public properties, he said.
Longwa has eight jhum farmlands and two forest reserves in total, out of which four jhum farmlands and one forest reserve fall under Myanmar territory, he added.
Chief Angh Phawang further pointed out that the boundary demarcation was done “without the concrete knowledge of the village people” and would have been “outrightly rejected” if the people at that time had known that the village was being divided into two countries.
The communiqué came amid the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's reported affirmation on January 20 that the GoI would be removing FMR and putting up a fence along India's border with Myanmar in the North-East.
The proposals, if executed, would divide the people “socially and culturally,” the communiqué asserted.
Accordingly, on behalf of the people of Longwa, the Chief Angh urged the State Government led by the Chief Minister to look into the matter and voice out against the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the subsequent erection of fencing along the Indo-Myanmar Border.
