1. The Young Mizo Association (YMA) in Mizoram opposes the central government’s plan to fence the Indo-Myanmar border.
2. The YMA is particularly against the termination of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), emphasizing its role in preserving Mizo’s brotherhood and integrity.
3. The proposed changes are seen as potentially detrimental to the essential ethnic and cultural connections of the Mizo people.
Aizawl, Jan 11: Central Committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizoram’s largest civil society organisation, voiced a strong opposition to the central government’s move to fence the Indo-Myanmar border and terminate the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
“The Free Movement Regime (FMR) has played a crucial role in maintaining the ethnic and cultural linkages between the Mizo people residing on both sides of the border,” the YMA central committee said.
The YMA is of the view that since the FMR has been instrumental in recognising and strengthening the brotherhood and integrity of the Mizo people, the proposed abolition of it and the implementation of border fencing would have a detrimental effect on these vital ethnic and cultural connections.
“We firmly believe that the scrapping of the FMR and the erection of border fencing would disrupt the harmonious coexistence and cultural exchange that has been integral to the lives of the Mizo people for decades,” the central YMA said in a statement.
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The central YMA said it stood in solidarity with the Mizoram State government in opposing these proposed changes and is prepared to extend its full support against the abolition of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and border fencing.
Mizoram shares 404 kms while other northeast Indian states of Manipur share 398kms, Nagaland (215kms) and Arunachal Pradesh (520kms).
The FMR was introduced in the 1970s as the ethnic tribes living in Myanmar and India share ethnic and familial ties and they wanted a system for easy movement.
They now just require a travel pass issued by the border guarding force to cross the border. But the centre recently said once the FMR is scrapped, the villagers would require Visas.
Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton, while meeting state Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday had said that the people of Nagaland were vehemently opposing the termination of the FMR and Indo-Myanmar border fencing.
Zo-Reunification Organisation (ZORO) and the People’s Conference party also expressed strong opposition to the scrapping of FMR and border fencing.
