IMPHAL, Oct 1:    The Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO) has expressed strong opposition to the Indian government’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border and its plans to construct border fencing.

In a press release, the MNYO emphasized that the decision, made in February 2024, was hasty and failed to consider the impact on indigenous communities living on both sides of the border.

The FMR, implemented since the 1950s, allowed residents of India and Myanmar to cross the border without visas or passports for up to 40 km. The MNYO argues that this regime is crucial for maintaining the cultural, economic, and social ties of the trans-border indigenous tribes, and its removal violates their rights, habitat, and livelihood. 

The organisation also condemned the government’s plan to construct a border fence, stating that it would divide families, lands, and villages, severely disrupting the lives of those living along the border.

According to the MNYO, the decision to end the FMR and build the fence was justified under the pretext of enhancing national security and curbing illegal activities. However, the group believes that this move will backfire, as it will alienate the local population and cause unrest. Instead of focusing on border fencing, the organisation called for the government to invest in development projects that could benefit border communities and reduce unemployment, particularly in the Naga areas of Kamjong and Tengnoupal districts.

The MNYO urged the Government of India to reconsider its policies, reinstate the FMR, and focus on more inclusive and development-oriented measures to support the region, rather than dividing it through border fencing.