Aizawl: A prominent ethnic group from Aizawl, representing the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi communities, has urged the Indian government to reinstate the Free Movement Regime (FMR) that previously allowed visa-free travel across the India-Myanmar border.
The Zo Re-unification Organisation (ZORO), which represents ethnic Zo or Mizo tribes spanning India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, is also calling for the revocation of a recent order that mandates a border pass for residents living within 10 kms of the India-Myanmar border.
In a statement to the press on Tuesday, ZORO President R Sangkawia explained that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had recently replaced the FMR with a new system aimed at regulating movement across the border.
The new system, which went into effect on January 1, 2025, requires individuals living within the 10 km border zone to obtain a border pass in order to cross into the neighbouring country.
The MHA’s decision to end the FMR was officially made in February 2024, with the stated goal of bolstering national security and safeguarding the demographic integrity of India’s northeastern states bordering Myanmar.
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However, officials noted that no formal notification to cancel the FMR has been issued yet.
Under the new guidelines, individuals within the 10 km radius on either side of the India-Myanmar border must now apply for a border pass to travel across the border.
These passes will be issued by the Assam Rifles, and each pass will allow the holder to stay in the neighbouring country for up to seven days.
To obtain the pass, individuals must provide proof of residence within the 10 km border zone, which can be verified through documents issued by local authorities, such as the police or village chiefs.
Sangkawia revealed that the MHA’s December 24, 2024 communication to Mizoram’s chief secretary outlined the details of the new system.
According to the letter, the movement of people will be regulated through 18 designated entry and exit points along the India-Myanmar border.
The first phase will implement crossing points at Zokhawthar and Hnahlan in Champhai district, while the second phase will extend to three additional points in Lawngtlai district and another 13 points across all six border-sharing districts in Mizoram.
The MHA’s directive further specified that border crossings would be permitted for specific purposes, including visiting relatives, tourism, business, medical treatment, and cultural exchange programs.
ZORO has expressed concern about the new system, arguing that the reinstatement of the FMR is crucial for preserving the traditional free movement of people across the India-Myanmar border, which has long been a vital aspect of the cultural and familial ties in the region.
