A screenshot of Google Map showing international border between India and Myanmar, in the state of Nagaland. Nagaland is bounded by Myanmar on the East. (Screenshot/Morung Photo)
Dimapur, January 4 (MExN): The Rising Peoples Party (RPP) today termed the recent decision by the Union Government to terminate the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border as ‘alarming and a wake-up call for Nagas.’
The FMR allows residents on either side of the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each other's territory without a visa.
As per the State’s department of border affairs, Nagaland shares 215 Km of International Border with Myanmar. The borders are typically unfenced.
According to the RPP, besides proposing visa travel, the central government aims to construct high-security fencing along the border.
"Nagas are already the most geographically divided people, and this proposal will only heighten the divide amongst the Naga people. Therefore, any policy that aims to further divide us should be opposed tooth and nail," it asserted.
To this end, the RPP urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "uphold the age-old mechanism which allows people across borders to converge and live as honorable peoples, whether Nagas or Zo-Kuki."
The RPP pointed out that various forms of FMR have been in place since the creation of Nagaland in 1963, respecting the needs and sentiments of the Naga people living on both sides of the border.
"This needs to be respected and upheld," it underscored.
It further argued that the "ineptitude" of Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh and his "communal policies cannot be the excuse for the central government to scrap the FMR."
The RPP recalled that in 2017, the Burmese junta proposed to fence the international border near Pangsha under Noklak district.
However, it was subsequently dropped due to strong and spirited opposition by the people, it added.
Accordingly, theRPP stated that the NDPP-BJP coalition government in Nagaland should strongly oppose the proposed scrapping of the FMR.
"If necessary, all the 60 MLAs should meet either the Prime Minister or his Home Minister and convey the strong feelings of the Naga people that under no circumstances will the construction of the fencing be allowed," it added.
It must be noted here that the PTI news agency, quoting a senior government functionary on January 2 reported that the FMR will be ended soon.
“We are going to end the FMR along the Indo-Myanmar border soon. We are going to put fencing along the entire border. The fencing will be completed in next four-and-a-half years. Anyone coming through will have to…get a visa,” the functionary was quoted as saying.
Tendering for an advanced smart fencing system for 300 km of the India-Myanmar border is already in pipeline and the work will be started very soon, the report maintained.
Apart from misuse of FMR, the objective is also put a halt to ‘influx of illegal immigrants, and paralyse drugs and gold smuggling networks,’ it added. Manipur Chief Minister had in September 2023 urged the Centre to end the FMR.
