MON (Nagaland): Amid the hullabaloo over ‘fencing’ the 1,643 km-long India-Myanmar border, a power Naga tribal chieftain has urged New Delhi not to terminate the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with the neighbouring country.
On January 20, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced New Delhi’s plans to construct border fence and abolish the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar.
While Northeast India states of ArunachalPradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share border with Myanmar, the Chief Ministers of the states are divided on New Delhi’s move to ‘fence’ the border.
As Manipur CM N. Biren Singh is campaigning for the border fence, his Mizoram counterpart Lalduhawma is opposed to it. And, Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio is talking about ‘consensuses on the issue.
Amid the confusion and hullabaloo, Tonyei Phawang, the Naga chieftain of Longwa village in Nagaland’s Mon district has made a strong appeal against New Delhi’s decision to fence the Myanmar border.
Phawang is also against the move to terminate the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border.
As per the FMR, tribal Naga villagers are permitted to traverse up to 16 km into each other’s territories without visa or a passport.
The picturesque Longwa village is interestingly positioned on the international border, with half of its territory in India and the other half in Myanmar.
Because of its atypical geographical location, the villagers (from both sides of the international border) are allowed to live under one village administration.
The Naga chieftain said the border fence and termination of the FMR would disrupt the social and cultural fabric of border communities, particularly in Longwa.
Phawang said they have been enjoying free-movement across the international border since time immemorial, and New Delhi should not try to derail it.
The Naga chieftain said Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio should oppose the twin moves of construction of border fence and termination of the free movement regime.
