India Considers Fencing Myanmar Border and Reassessing Free Movement Agreement

• 29 Jan 2024

During a passing out parade of Assam police commandos on 20^th Jan, Union Home Minister announced Centre’s plans to fence the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border and reconsider the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement to address border residents' movements without paperwork.

Key Points

• FMR Origins and Purpose: The FMR, signed in 2018, allows people along the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each other's country without a visa, facilitating local movement, trade, and access to education and healthcare.
• The FMR originated from diplomatic efforts to improve ties with Myanmar, addressing historical border divisions and fostering regional cooperation.
• Security Concerns and Unfenced Border: Security challenges along the unfenced border, especially in Manipur, have prompted a rethink on the FMR.
• Extremist groups operating from Myanmar have posed security threats, and the ease of movement has been exploited for drug trafficking and wildlife-related crimes.
• Trigger for FMR Reassessment: The conflict between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur in 2023 led to concerns about the influx of Myanmar nationals, prompting calls to end the FMR.
• Manipur Chief Minister linked ethnic violence to the free movement, seeking FMR suspension, citing concerns over "illegal immigrants."
• Scale of Migration and Displacement: Civil unrest in Myanmar has led to an increase in people seeking refuge in India, with thousands recorded in Manipur and tens of thousands in Mizoram.
• Manipur pushed back Myanmar nationals, attributing the conflict partly to cross-border movement.