New Delhi: Thousands of people residing along the India-Myanmar border took to the streets on May 16 to protest the Narendra Modi government’s decision to revoke the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement with Myanmar. The FMR allows people on both sides of the international border to move within a 16 km radius across the border without a visa.The bilateral arrangement, initiated in the 1970s, has been helpful for people who share kinship with those on the other side of the border to maintain their mutual age-old relations.However, in February, the Modi government decided to scrap the agreement. The announcement came in tandem with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s decision to completely fence the border.However, the Centre’s decision at once triggered sharp reactions from the Mizo-Kuki people of Mizoram and Manipur, as also Nagas in Nagaland and Manipur. Both the Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma and the Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio came out in support of keeping the FMR agreement, citing kinship between people residing on both sides of the border. Both the state assemblies have also passed resolutions against the Centre’s decision.On May 16, Zoro (Zo Re-Unification Organisation), a powerful Mizo organisation that calls for bringing the Mizo-Zo-Kuki people living in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar under one administration, gave a protest call. In response, thousands marched on the streets of border villages of the state, as well as in the Tengnoupal district of Manipur. Protesters were spotted holding placards and banners demanding continuation of the FMR between the two neighbouring countries.At least two MLAs of the ruling Zoram People’s Party (ZPM) – Clement Lalmingthanga from the South Champai assembly seat, and Lalmuanpuia Punte from the Hrangturzo constituency – also took part in the protest.According to a Mizoram Post report, rallies were held in some villages of Mizoram’s Champai and Lunglei districts and Manipur’s Tengnoupal district. While Lungei district borders Bangladesh, Champai and Tengnoupal borders Myanmar.Quoting Zoro general secretary L.R. Renthlei, the news report said hundreds of people from Khawmawi and neighbouring villages of Myanmar also took part in a rally held at Zokhawthar area of Champai district. It said, “Several (Myanmarese national) could not enter India as the (Indian) authorities concerned had to close the Friendship Gate (on the international border) to prevent any untoward incident.”Addressing these rallies, Zoro leaders including its president R. Sangkawia urged the Centre to respect the rights of the indigenous people residing along the India-Myanmar border and not fence it. He said, “Mizo people who have been divided and scattered in three countries — India, Myanmar and Bangladesh — still dream of re-unifying under one administrative unit.”“If the Centre goes ahead with its plan to fence the Indo-Myanmar border and withdraw the FMR, we will take this as a Declaration of Independence for the ethnic Zo or Mizo communities,” he asserted.According to a report in the Ukhrul Times, Transborder Indigenous people (TIP), an organisation of cross-border Naga community, also came out in protest against the scrapping of FMR. In a meeting held in Ukhrul on May 16, the organisation deliberated on “whatever is democratically possible to pressure both the governments of Myanmar and India not to further divide the Naga family”.Several civil society and student bodies of Mizoram and Nagaland have already appealed to the Centre not to fence the border and divide their people and respect the FMR so that their historical ties can be maintained.
