The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has appealed to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reverse the decision made by the Government of India to revoke the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border.
In this regard, the apex Naga students’ organisation submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister through Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on February 1.
“The recent move of GoI to scrap FMR and fencing borderlines is self-contradictory because India is one of the signatories and has ratified to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 (UNDRP),” stated ANSAM.
It added that the Article 36 of the UNDRP recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples divided by international borders to maintain and develop contacts with their peoples across the border, particularly for spiritual, cultural and
economic purposes.
Naga people acknowledge the Government of India for having concern over the escalating influx of illegal immigrants in the region. “But we would like to put on record that permanent sealing of the border is not an ideal solution for curbing illegal immigrants but it will cause another human crisis and is highly uncalled for,” it pointed out.
The apex Naga students’ body also expressed its commitment to checking the same in the state of Manipur and neighboring states. It, nevertheless, added: “If the government is serious about dealing with the issue of illegal immigrants and committed to curbing the same, it (govt) may invoke various mechanisms like updation of the National Registration of Citizen (NRC), Constitution of Population Commission, strict implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) etc. and, effective checking of illegal immigrants rest with the sincerity of the enforcing security agencies under your government.”
ANSAM then cautioned that scrapping of FMR is not tenable and is dehumanizing in nature. “It will surely disrupt the traditional ties of people living on both sides of the border whose immovable assets spread across the border and their livelihood activities, age-old shared
relationship of social and custom amongst the people.”
Ironically, the arbitrary borderline of Indo-Mayanmar split the house of one Ang in Longwa, Konyak area. “Consequently, the weight of its impacts will only fall upon the common civilians, it will amount to cross violation of human rights and the act of grave dehumanization.”
While appreciating the initiative for restoration of peace over the persistent conflict in parts of Manipur warring between two ethnic groups the Meiteis and the Chin-Kuki-Mizo, the ANSAM reiterated that the decision to end FMR and installation of fencing in all 1,643 km. by dragging along many North Eastern states is neither justifiable nor the right approach for containing the Manipur crisis.
“But it will trigger a bigger problem without doing any good. Such a premature decision on the part of GoI to erect a physical fencing border along the whole stretches of the Indo-Mayanmar border between the house, families and community is illogical and for the Nagas, is nothing less than rubbing salt in the wounds.”
The memo went on to mention that the installation of fencing along the borders will also be severely impacted towards the pristine biodiversity and ecosystem. “It will not only activate human crisis but ecological crisis is also bound to erupt out of such exercise.”
It further cautioned that any move to terminate FMR and the entire border fencing program will surely imperil the situation of people in the region and the stature of the mighty India before the world.
“As such, this representation demands review and reinstatement of FMR to avert from ignition of the strong spark of Civil Unrest in the North Eastern States of India,” it said.
Historically, the Indo- Myanmar Border (IMB) is an imposed imaginary line drawn between the families, and community without the consent and knowledge of the affected tribal populace residing in the contested borderline.
The Naga people living across the artificial borderline have been enduring historical injustice facing untold hardship and suffering in terms of social, economic, political, etc.
The reintroduction of FMR allowing the tribal living along the border to travel up to 16 Km. on either side of the country without a visa during 2018 under the Modi-led BJP regime was a welcoming step that has alleviated the hardship and enhanced the livelihood of the people residing along the borders.
The people at large were expecting for expansion of its coverage with the rise of India as the global leader. But, to our utter shock and dismay, GoI has taken a regressive step having decid ed to scrap the said Free Movement Regime under the pretext of illegal immigrants and insurgencies.
The Indo-Myanmar Border holds greater significance for the regional inhabitants than being merely a permeable or unfenced boundary.
“It symbolizes the interconnectedness of physical, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and fraternal ties. Those residing on both sides of the IMB share a profound emotional connection fostered by their common cultural affinity,” the memo added.
