Scrapping of FMR, fencing Indo-Myanmar border would impact economic relationship between Myanmar and Mizoram: NGOCC

Earlier yesterday Chief Minister Lalduhoma had reiterated his opposition to the Centre's decision

Opposing New Delhi’s decision to withdraw the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing of the border with Myanmar, the NGO Coordination Committee today staged a protest demonstration in Aizawl.

Speaking to Northeast Live, NGOCC Chairman and President of Central Young Mizo Association, Lalhmachhuana said, “When FMR came about in 2018, as part of the Narendra Modi government’s act, policy, it strengthened good coordination between people on both sides of the border and boosted the economic relationship. The people reside in the border areas of Mizoram and Myanmar are closely related to one another, and there is much cultural interchange between them. If the government of India scrap FMR and fence the Indo-Myanmar border these will be hampered.”

Rajya Sabha MP K.Vanlalvena said, “NGOCC has already submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding this. I have also urged Rajya Sabha chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh four times to allow me to speak about this during Parliament session, but I was not given any chance to speak.”

Earlier yesterday Chief Minister Lalduhoma had reiterated his opposition to the Centre’s decision.

CM Lalduhoma has been quoted as saying that it was the British who divided the Kuki-Zo ethnic community by drawing an artificial border and that it is the undying dream of the Mizos to live together with their Kuki-Zo brothers and reunite under a single administrative unit.

Groups in Mizoram say that Mizoram stretch of the border should be left unfenced even if the centre goes ahead in fencing the border in other states in the Northeast.

The Union Home Minister had first made the announcement regarding sealing the India-Myanmar border on January 20 during an event in Guwahati, Assam.

The 1,643-km-long India-Myanmar border, spanning Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, currently operates under the FMR, which permits individuals living near the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each other’s territories without a visa.

The NGOCC is a conglomerate of central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), and Mizo Students Union (MSU).

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