Free Movement Regime along Myanmar border: rationale and criticism
- Recently, the Union Home Minister announced the decision to fence the entire 1,643 km India-Myanmar border to curb free movement.
- The move comes amid discussions on revisiting the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement implemented in 2018.
Free Movement Regime (FMR) and Rationale
- The FMR, initiated as part of the Act East policy in 2018, aimed to strengthen Indo-Myanmar ties.
- The border, drawn by the British in 1826, divided people of the same ethnicity without their consent.
- It was a mutually agreed arrangement that allowed tribes living along the border to travel 16 km into each other's territory without a visa.
- It facilitated people-to-people contact, boosted local trade, and addressed historical border demarcation issues.
Criticisms and Manipur Conflict
- Despite benefiting local communities, the FMR faced criticism for unintentionally aiding illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and gun running.
- The border runs through forested and undulating terrain, and is almost entirely unfenced, and difficult to monitor.
- The military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 led to increased persecution, resulting in large numbers of Myanmarese tribals seeking shelter in India.
- The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur has heightened concerns about the FMR's role in facilitating illegal migration and contributing to the Manipur conflict.
- Insurgent groups, taking advantage of porous borders, engaged in illegal activities, including drug trafficking and weapon sales, often misusing the FMR.
- In September 2022, India suspended the FMR in response to the rising influx of refugees and security concerns.
Challenges and Implications
- Removing the FMR entirely or fully fencing the border poses challenges.
- The local population's livelihoods and essential travel for healthcare and education could be affected.
- Securing an unfenced, forested, and undulating border in challenging terrain poses difficulties even with robust patrolling and intelligence.
- Experts suggest a balanced approach, emphasising effective border administration without entirely removing the FMR.