A “trade embargo” imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Nagas in Manipur, from midnight on September 8, affected the movement of goods-carrying vehicles in the Naga-dominated hilly areas of the State.
While shops and business establishments were exempted from the “trade embargo,” trucks and other non-passenger commercial vehicles were stranded on all major roads, including the arterial National Highway 2, in the Naga-inhabited areas.
Centre invites Manipur Naga bodies for talks on FMR, Myanmar border fencing
The UNC said the ‘trade embargo’ was the first step of non-cooperation with the government in protest against New Delhi’s move to fence the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border and scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR). The stir is a fallout of the inconclusive talks between a UNC team and Central government officials on August 26 over the two related issues.
The FMR allows cross-border movement of people living along the international boundary without travel documents. The extent of travel is up to 10 km from the border, currently unfenced except for a small stretch in Manipur.
