What is the FMR?
The Free Movement Regime (FMR), established in 2018, allows border residents of India and Myanmar to travel 16 km inside each other’s country without a visa, fostering local trade and access to services.
Why is the FMR being reconsidered?
Security concerns, including trafficking and ethnic violence, have prompted a rethink. The Manipur government cited an influx of Myanmar nationals as a security issue.
Why was the FMR initially introduced?
It aimed to improve diplomatic ties with Myanmar, counter Chinese influence, and support people divided by the India-Myanmar border.
What are the historical ties across the India-Myanmar border?
The border, established by the Treaty of Yandaboo (1826), divided ethnic groups like the Nagas and Kuki-Chin-Mizo, who share cultural and familial ties.
What is the scale of migration from Myanmar?
Due to the civil war in Myanmar, thousands sought refuge in India, with significant numbers in Mizoram and Manipur.
Why are Mizoram and Nagaland opposed to ending the FMR?
Mizoram and Nagaland oppose scrapping the FMR due to shared ethnic ties with Myanmar’s communities. They see the FMR as a means to maintain cultural and familial connections.
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