India mulls terminating Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar: Officials
Officials have stated that the Indian government intends to end the Free Movement Regime with neighboring Myanmar in an attempt to control the flood of illegal migrants and rebels. 2018 saw the implementation of the FMR as a part of India’s Act East Policy.
The FMR, which allows residents of the four Indian states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh to travel 16 kilometers into each other’s territory without a visa, is currently in effect along the 1,643 km long India-Myanmar border.
However, there are worries that the FMR program is being abused to support “illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking.” The Manipur administration, along with the governments of the other northeastern states affected, brought up the issue before in front of the Centre.
Under the Free Movement Regime, people who are part of the hill tribes, citizens of India or Myanmar, and who reside within a 16-kilometer radius on either side of the border are permitted to cross with a 12-month border pass. Visitors may remain for up to two weeks at a time.
We intend to terminate the FMR along the Indo-Myanmar border shortly, according to an official with knowledge of the strategy being developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Our goal is to erect barriers all the way to the border. Anyone entering will need to have a valid visa.
“The goal is to stop illegal immigration and disrupt networks involved in the smuggling of drugs and gold, as well as to stop the misuse of the FMR, which insurgent groups exploit for attacks on the Indian side before fleeing to Myanmar.”
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