Mokokchung, 8 February (MTNews): Amid protests from the Mizos and the Nagas, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the immediate suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar. Home Minister Amit Shah made the announcement via X earlier today, stating that the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping the regime.
“The Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” Shah stated in his tweet.
It is Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji's resolve to secure our borders.
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…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 8, 2024
Shah emphasized that the decision was taken to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar. The decision was underscored as Prime Minister Modi’s resolve to fortify India’s borders.
In response, the Naga Students’ Federation, in a pressing appeal to the United Nations, urged António Guterres, the Secretary-General, to intervene immediately to prevent further fragmentation of the Naga homeland by Indian occupational forces. The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), representing the sentiments and aspirations of Naga youth, has raised alarm over the looming threat posed by the Indian armed forces’ plan to fence the arbitrary India-Myanmar border and abolish the Free Movement Regime.
The Student body urged the UN to immediately stop the program for abolishing the Free Movement Regime and the proposed fencing on the arbitrary India-Myanmar boundary in the Naga homeland.
It also appealed to the UN to closely monitor the state of affairs across the Naga homeland and support a peaceful resolution to the Indo-Naga-Myanmar political issue which would be just, long-lasting, inclusive, honorable, and acceptable to all the parties involved.
Furthermore, it appealed for the exploration of possibilities for a fresh referendum under the supervision of international bodies.
(Read NSF letter to UN Secretary General here)