Centre Invites United Naga Council for Talks on Border Fencing, Free Movement Regime Scrapping
The UNC has received an invitation from the Home Ministry to attend a meeting over the fencing of the India-Myanmar border
The Indian government has invited the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga body in Manipur, to New Delhi for talks on August 26 regarding its decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar and fence the 1,643 km-long border.
The invitation, extended by A.K. Mishra, Advisor (North East) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, was addressed to UNC president Ng Lorho, the organisation confirmed on August 21.
What is the FMR?
The FMR, introduced in 1968 to facilitate cross-border movement for ethnic and familial ties, initially allowed residents on either side to travel up to 40 km without a visa. The limit was reduced to 16 km in 2004 and further curtailed to 10 km less than a year ago.
The issue has triggered strong opposition from Naga organisations in Manipur and Nagaland, as well as Mizo groups in Manipur, who argue that fencing the border will disrupt traditional ties and community relations. The Manipur stretch of the international border, measuring 398 km, has been at the centre of this resistance.
On July 22, the UNC, along with the Naga Women’s Union and the All-Naga Students’ Union, Manipur, submitted a joint memorandum to the Centre through Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanding an immediate halt to the fencing plan. The Governor had also met a UNC delegation on August 16 at Raj Bhavan in Imphal, ahead of the Centre’s formal invitation.
How have the decisions on FMR impacted local politics?
Meanwhile, political tensions in Manipur flared up after a complaint was lodged against an Imphal resident for allegedly defaming Rajya Sabha MP and titular king Sanajaoba Leishemba on social media. The resident, Sanaton Meitei, claimed that the Arambai Tenggol was the MP’s “private army.”
The complaint, filed at Porompat police station by the MP’s office, termed the post “in very bad taste” and an affront to the bloodline of the titular king. It stressed that the MP’s association with Arambai Tenggol was limited to encouraging it as an indigenous cultural group and not as a militant outfit.
Maisnam Shivadutta, personal secretary to the MP, stated that Sanajaoba has consistently raised issues of Manipur in Parliament, including those concerning internally displaced persons, and urged the authorities to take action against misuse of social media.
The upcoming August 26 meeting in Delhi is expected to be a key turning point in the debate over India’s border policy with Myanmar.
