Manipur: Kuki Body Demands Halt to Indo-Myanmar Fencing

With over 4,000 households on both sides of the border impacted, tribal leaders say the fencing violates constitutional safeguards and customary land rights.

By PC Bureau

July 28, 2025: The proposed construction of the Indo-Myanmar border fencing through tribal-inhabited regions of Manipur has sparked urgent opposition from the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), a prominent tribal organization voicing the collective concerns of the indigenous Kuki-Zo people.

In a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 26, KIM accused the Centre of violating constitutional, legal, and humanitarian norms by unilaterally pushing through a project that could permanently divide their ancestral lands and families.

The Kuki body contends that the ongoing fencing activity has proceeded without consulting the Hill Areas Committee, a constitutional requirement under Article 371C for tribal regions in Manipur. The project, they say, infringes upon multiple laws, including Article 300A (Right to Property), the LARR Act of 2013, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

READ: Border Fencing MEMORANDUM (1)

“This fencing is not just illegal—it is deeply insensitive and threatens the existence of a people whose lives are defined by cross-border kinship and shared heritage,” said Lenin Haokip, Legal Secretary of KIM.

“Not Just a Fence, But a Wall Between Families”

The Indo-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allows tribal communities within 16 km of the border to move freely across both countries, has historically protected these ties. The fencing will sever connections between at least 40 closely linked villages—20 in India and 20 in Myanmar—cutting off over 4,000 tribal households, according to the enclosed list.

Villages like Houlenphai (India) and Nanphalong (Myanmar), or Samtal (India) and Bokkan (Myanmar), share not just geography but familial bonds, languages, religions, and economic systems. For many, a barbed-wire fence is akin to a Berlin Wall slicing through tribal unity.

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The memorandum warns that unilateral fencing without social impact assessment or rehabilitation plans may destabilize an already volatile region. The tribal belt of Manipur has seen cycles of unrest, insurgency, and displacement. According to KIM, fencing will only deepen resentment, alienate communities, and derail the government’s own security objectives.

“The project reeks of an attitude that treats the border hills not as homes, but as buffer zones to be managed with barbed wire,” the document states.

Citing the landmark Samatha judgment of 1997, which protects tribal land from state encroachment, the memorandum accuses the government of ignoring India’s constitutional obligations. KIM has also forwarded the appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Council, NHRC, UNPFII, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

“Building a fence without consent violates not just domestic laws but India’s international commitments to indigenous peoples,” Haokip asserted.

READ: After Abandoning HQ, Tengnoupal DC Caught in Kuki-Zo–Meitei Crossfire

KIM’s six-point prayer includes an immediate halt to the fencing, respect for FMR provisions, meaningful consultations with affected communities, and formation of an independent review commission. It urges the adoption of alternative, non-intrusive border security models that uphold national security without endangering tribal livelihoods.

With the border fencing now emerging as the latest flashpoint, the Modi government faces a sensitive test of its commitment to constitutional federalism and tribal rights.

Affected Villages on Both Sides of the Indo-Myanmar Border

Total Affected Families: 4,094
(986 in India, 3,108 in Myanmar)

 Box VI: Our Humble Prayers to the Hon’ble Home Minister

In view of the threats posed by the fencing initiative, the Kuki Inpi Manipur respectfully submits the following six-point appeal:

1. Immediately halt the ongoing construction of the Indo-Myanmar border fencing in Kuki-inhabited areas.
2. Uphold the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and ensure no fencing displaces tribal beneficiaries or violates cross-border kinship rights.
3. Convene formal consultations with affected tribal communities, the Hill Areas Committee (as mandated under Article 371C), and traditional authorities.
4. Form an independent review commission including representatives from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, NHRC, and indigenous bodies to study legal, social, and cultural impact.
5. Ensure full legal protection of tribal land and community rights under Article 300A, the LARR Act (2013), SC/ST (PoA) Act (1989), and the Samatha judgment.
6. Explore alternative security models that respect tribal autonomy while addressing national security goals—such as community-based border watch systems.