Nagaland: Important Meeting to Address FMR and Protected Area Permit Issues
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Synopsis
On April 30, a significant consultative meeting will focus on the Free Movement Regime and Protected Area Permit in Nagaland, with key officials in attendance. The meeting aims to address peace maintenance and border movement regulations amidst ongoing political developments.
Key Takeaways
- Consultative Meeting scheduled for April 30
- Discussion on Free Movement Regime (FMR) and Protected Area Permit (PAP)
- Participation by top government officials and civil society leaders
- Focus on maintaining peace in Nagaland
- Concerns over border fencing and Naga political issues
Kohima, April 23 (NationPress) An important Consultative Meeting is set to take place on April 30 to deliberate on the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border and the Protected Area Permit (PAP) in Nagaland, among other significant topics, officials reported on Wednesday.
The Nagaland Home Department has organized this meeting, which will see participation from Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Ministers T.R. Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton, Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, the Deputy Speaker, all Ministers, and Members of Parliament.
A representative from the Home Department mentioned that all MLAs, Advisors, the Chief Secretary, along with other senior officials from the state government and leaders from 27 civil society organizations, will also attend this meeting.
This day-long gathering will also address the need for maintaining peace in Nagaland amid recent political changes, as well as the enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), as indicated by the official.
Additionally, an all-party delegation, led by Chief Minister Rio, is scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the longstanding Naga political issue and concerns regarding border fencing and the FMR along the India-Myanmar border.
A senior minister from Nagaland previously mentioned that during the last Assembly session (from March 3 to 8), the Chief Minister proposed that an all-party delegation should meet the Union Home Minister to inform him about contentious Naga political issues, which are a constant in state politics. He added that aside from the Naga political topic, the FMR, PAP, ILP, and border fencing along the India-Myanmar border are crucial matters to discuss with the Union Home Minister.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced last year that the FMR, which permits individuals living near the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each other's territories without requiring a visa, will soon be discontinued. Instead, the MHA plans to implement a new program to provide passes to border residents from both India and Myanmar within 10 km on either side of the border to regulate cross-border movement.
On March 7, the Nagaland Assembly unanimously resolved that an all-party delegation should meet the Union Home Minister to convey the “sentiment and resentment of the Naga people” regarding the MHA’s decision to abolish the FMR between India and Myanmar.
During discussions on the matter, the Chief Minister informed the assembly that restricting border movement would disrupt the longstanding historical, ethnic, social, cultural, traditional, and economic connections of the Nagas residing on both sides of the India-Myanmar border. The governments of Nagaland and Mizoram, along with numerous political parties and civil organizations in these northeastern states, have opposed both the border fencing and the elimination of the FMR.
Four northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram — share a 1,643-km unfenced border with Myanmar. The MHA previously decided to construct fencing along the entire porous border, which is notorious for the smuggling of arms, ammunition, narcotics, and various other contraband, at an expense of Rs 31,000 crore.
