AIZAWL: In a loud chorus of opposition, Mizoram’s leading non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have joined forces to challenge the Centre’s decision to abolish free movement regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The NGO Co-ordination Committee, representing five prominent NGOs in the state, has made a fervent appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging a revaluation of the proposed border fencing and the abolition of the FMR.
The memorandum was ceremoniously delivered to the Secretary to the Governor at Raj Bhavan on February 13.
Citing India’s commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the memorandum underscored a glaring contradiction in the government’s actions.
“Article 36 of UNDRIP mandates the protection of indigenous peoples divided by international borders,” it read.
At the heart of their plea lies a profound appreciation for the FMR, hailed as a linchpin in preserving the rich tapestry of ethnic and cultural ties binding Mizo communities on both sides of the border.
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The proposed measures, they contend, would sever these delicate bonds, jeopardising the harmonious coexistence and cultural exchange that define Mizo identity.
Comprising organisations such as the Central Young Mizo Association, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (student body), the Mizo Students Union, the Mizo Upa Pawl (Mizoram Elders Association), and the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (Association of Mizo Women), the NGO Co-ordination Committee represents a formidable alliance, united in their resolve to safeguard the interests of Mizoram.
The memorandum’s submission follows Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma’s recent rendezvous with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on February 10.
Their discussions, shrouded in urgency, centred on the vexing issues surrounding border demarcation and the plight of Myanmar refugees seeking sanctuary in the state.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma has been consistently stressing that the current border demarcation between Mizoram and Myanmar was imposed by the British without local consent, underscoring the necessity for reconsideration.
He has also been reiterating Mizoram’s open-arms policy towards Myanmar refugees, especially those of the Chin-Zo ethnic tribe, who share deep ethnic and cultural bonds with Mizos.
