Request GoI to reconsider decision
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 1
The 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) today passed a resolution on the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border. Of the 1643 km border that the North-Eastern states have with Myanmar, Nagaland state shares a 215 km border.
The resolution to this effect was moved by Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton and it was resolved accordingly on the floor of the house today. The NLA resolved to request the Government of India to reconsider its decision, and to abandon the plan of suspending the FMR and fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The House also resolved to request the Government of India (GoI) to work out regulations for movement of people across the borders in close consultation with the people inhabiting the border areas, and for suitably bringing in the village council authorities concerned in the entire system of regulations.
The resolution stated that GoI has recently announced its decision to suspend the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border, and also to fence the Indo-Myanmar border.
The resolution stated that “these measures will cause immense inconvenience, and also agony to the Naga people living in the Indo-Myanmar border areas due to the fact that the traditional land holding system straddles across the international border in many areas, and people have to cross the international border on a daily basis for their normal cultivation activities.”
The resolution stated that “these measures will seriously disrupt the age-old historical, social, tribal, and economic ties of the Naga people living on both sides of the international border.”
Earlier, on Thursday, the NLA discussed this matter on the floor of the house as urgent public importance, initiated by MLA Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu and Leader of NPF Legislature Party.
Mention may be made that the Mizoram Assembly only recently on February 28 also adopted a resolution against the GoI’s decision to fence the Indo-Myanmar border and scrap the FMR with Myanmar. Mizoram shares a 510 km border with the neighbouring country.
The resolution comes in the wake of the recent announcement made by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for immediate suspension of FMR between India and Myanmar to ensure the internal security of the country, to tackle drug trafficking menace and to maintain the demographic structure of the North Eastern states bordering Myanmar.
Since the announcement, Naga civil society organizations have been voicing strong opposition against the move.
