Tribal bodies from Northeast urge PM Modi to reconsider scrapping FMR

GUWAHATI: Several tribal organisations from the Northeast have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take into reconsideration the central government’s decision to repeal the free movement regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar.

The organisations have also expressed disappointment over the Centre’s decision to fence the 1643-km-long international border shared by India and Myanmar in the Northeast.

It may be mentioned here that there has been a growing discontent among indigenous communities, especially tribals, split by the India-Myanmar border.

This decision to oppose the scrapping of FMR and fencing of the India-Myanmar border emerged from a gathering of organisations hailing from Manipur, Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland.

The meeting was organised by the Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum (NIPF) in Dimapur on Friday (February 16).

The participating organisations included the Kuki Inpi Manipur, Zo Reunification Organisation (Mizoram), Kuki Inpi Nagaland, Indigenous Peoples of Mung-Dun-Chun-Kham, Assam, North East India (IPMDCKANEI), Manipur Naga Youth Organisation, Nagaland GB Federation, Nagaland Tribes Council, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, Senior Citizens Association Nagaland, United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas, Project Constitutional Justice, The Naga Rising, Chakhroma Youth Organisation, along with others.

Notably, political parties such as the NPF, NDPP and RPP and prominent figures like former diplomat Gautam Mukhophadhyaya, former MP C Apok Jamir, NPF MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu and former bureaucrat KK Sema were also present in the meeting.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, concerns were raised regarding the proposed repeal of the FMR and border fencing, deeming them not only impractical but also dehumanizing.

While the formalization of the FMR in 2018 under the Act East Policy was initially lauded as a conscious decision by the PM, the reversal of this policy is seen as detrimental to the peace and well-being of the region's inhabitants.

Highlighting the historical context, wherein the Indo-Myanmar border was delineated without the consent of indigenous people, the letter underscores the adverse impact on communities inhabiting the region since time immemorial.

The letter critiques the government's security-centric approach, alleging it contradicts India's diplomatic and strategic outreach with neighbouring countries and infringes upon indigenous rights.

Emphasizing adherence to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), signatory India is urged to align its approach accordingly.

Urging the PM to prioritize the collective aspirations of Northeast indigenous communities, the letter proposes exploring alternative solutions to address their concerns and foster peace and harmony essential for holistic development in the strategically vital border region.