Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh applauded the decision made by the Center on Thursday to suspend the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border, terming it as a “historic” move aimed at curbing illegal influx and bolstering internal security along the Indo-Myanmar frontier.
Manipur CM hailed the move as Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommendation to immediately suspend the Free Movement Regime.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar. Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X, earlier known as Twitter.
With the discontinuation of FMR, residents in the border regions who previously had unrestricted movement between India and Myanmar would now require visas for cross-border travel.
Expressing appreciation towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah for their steadfast commitment to securing the nation’s borders, Singh underscored the significance of scrapping the Free Movement Regime. He emphasised that the decision, endorsed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, was vital for internal security and the demographic integrity of the North Eastern states.
Biren Singh hailed the move as another landmark step in combating illegal immigration and strengthening internal security, following the recent announcement by the Government of India to erect smart fencing along the 1,643 km Indo-Myanmar border.
Additionally, two pilot projects employing a Hybrid Surveillance System (HSS) have been initiated in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to enhance border surveillance.
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While the move has garnered support from the Manipur state government, certain tribal communities, including the Nagas and Kuki-Zo, have voiced opposition, citing concerns regarding human rights violations and the potential for dehumanisation.
Manipur shares approximately 400 km of its border with Myanmar, and the state government has persistently urged the Center to abolish FMR and implement total fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border.
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