Free Movement Regime at Myanmar
Context:
- The Union government is contemplating to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border.
- It means people living in border areas and who could cross over to India will soon require visas to do the same.
- The Centre has also decided to start the tendering for an advanced smart fencing system for the entire India-Myanmar border.
What is Free Movement Regime?
- The FMR is a mutually agreed arrangement between the two countries (here India and Myanmar) which allows tribes living along the border to travel up to 16 km inside the other country without a requirement of visa.
- They can cross the border on production of a border pass, which is usually valid for a year and can stay for up to two weeks per visit.
- It is to be noted that the Manipur government has suspended the FMR since 2020, following the COVID19 pandemic.
- Manipur Chief Minister has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to cancel the FMR along the IndiaMyanmar border and complete its fencing.
- He also attributed the ongoing ethnic violence in the State to the free movement of people from across the border of Myanmar.
- After a military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, nearly 40,000 refugees took shelter in Mizoram, and around 4,000 refugees have entered Manipur.
