Aizawl
The Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO), a Mizo group, has announced protests against the Central government’s plans to fence the India-Myanmar border and scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR). This comes amid strong opposition from the Mizoram and Nagaland governments.
After meeting with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, ZORO leaders stated they would hold peaceful rallies at Zokhawthar and Vaphai in Champhai district, near the India-Myanmar border, on May 16. ZORO’s goal is to preserve the existing FMR, which allows residents on both sides of the border to travel up to 16 km without a visa.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma informed ZORO leaders that he had already discussed the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking to maintain the current arrangements. Mizoram’s Assembly and various civil society groups have also passed resolutions opposing the border fencing and the end of the FMR.
Nagaland’s government and its Assembly have similarly urged the Centre to reconsider the border fencing plans, pointing to the potential harm to cultural ties among the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi tribes spread across the region. Despite the pushback, the Central government, citing security concerns, plans to fence the entire 1,643 km India-Myanmar border, with work already underway in Manipur.
