The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) on Thursday urged reversing the decision made by the Central government to revoke the Free Movement Regime (FMR), and appealed to reinstate the same at Naga areas along Indo-Myanmar border.
Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club on Thursday, ANSAM tribunal member AC Thotso said that any move to terminate FMR, and the entire border fencing programme will imperil the situation of people in the region and the stature of India. ANSAM demands review and reinstatement of FMR to avert from ignition of civil unrest in the Northeastern states of India, he said.
Historically, the Indo- Myanmar Border is an imposed imaginary line drawn between the families, and community without the consent and knowledge of the affected tribal populace residing in the contested borderline, he said.
Thotso said that Naga people acknowledge the Government of India for having concern over the escalating influx of illegal immigrants in the region, however, on record that permanent sealing of the border is not an ideal solution for curbing illegal immigrants but it will cause another human crisis.
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“If the government is serious about dealing with the issue of illegal immigrants and committed to curbing the same, the government may invoke various mechanisms like updation of the National Registration of Citizen (NRC), Constitution of Population Commission, strict implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) etc. and more fully, effective checking of illegal immigrants rest with the sincerity of the enforcing security agencies under your government,” he said.
He said scrapping of FMR is not tenable and dehumanizing in nature because it will surely disrupt the traditional ties of people living on both sides of the border whose immovable assets spread across the border and their livelihood activities, age-old shared relationship of social and custom amongst the people.
Further, he said that the decision to end FMR and installation of fencing in all 1,643 Km. by dragging along many North Eastern states will trigger a bigger problem. The decision to erect a physical fencing border along the whole stretch of the Indo-Myanmar border-between the house, families and community is illogical and for the Nagas, it is nothing less than rubbing salt in the wounds, he added.
He mentioned that the Naga people living across the borderline have been enduring historical injustice facing untold hardship and suffering in terms of social, economic, political, etc.
"To our utter shock and dismay, the government of India has taken a regressive step having decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime under the pretext of illegal immigrants and insurgencies,” Thotso said.
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ANSAM president Luikang Luckson said that due to conflict in Manipur, communities like the Nagas which were not involved in the conflict have also faced hardships. The community has faced many tragic incidents even though they are not involved in the conflict, he said, urging the state government to take appropriate steps to solve issues.
A memorandum requesting reconsideration to scrap FMR has been submitted to Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah through the governor of Manipur.
