Why in news?

• As per the govt officials, the Union government is all set to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border.
• People living in border areas, who could cross over to India, will soon require visas.

What’s in today’s article?

• Indo-Myanmar border
• Free Movement Regime (FMR)
• News Summary

Indo-Myanmar border

• About
  • The Indo-Myanmar border runs for 1,643 km.
  • The States of Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) have common border with Myanmar.
• Demarcation of Indo-Myanmar border
  • Out of 1643 km, demarcation of 1472 km has been completed.
  • There are only two un-demarcated portions along Indo-Myanmar:
    • Lohit sub-sector of Arunachal Pradesh-136 km
    • Kabaw valley in Manipur – 35 km.
• Security Concerns along the border
  • Secessionist movements
    • The movement for Greater Nagaland comprising of areas in both India and Myanmar has dramatically destabilised the border.
  • Support to insurgents and terrorists in India
    • Many of the Insurgents in the North Eastern States of India have ties with groups in Myanmar who provide political backing, economic assistance, logistic support, military training or arms supplies.
    • The porous border also helps provide safe havens to the insurgents.
  • Narcotics smuggling
    • India is located near the Golden Triangle of drug production in the East (Northern Thailand, Laos and Myanmar), which has resulted in rampant drug trafficking through the country.
    • Trafficking of synthetic drugs to and from Myanmar is a concern.
• Border management
  • Security force along Indo-Myanmar border
    • Fondly known as “Friends of the North East People”, the Assam Rifles is deployed in the North East for guarding the Indo-Myanmar Border.
  • Modern Weapons for surveillance and border security
    • Modern weapons and equipment like Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Battle Field Surveillance Radar (BFSR), Laser Range Finder etc. are being used for border security.
  • Border Fencing
    • In order to check the problem of infiltration, smuggling of contrabands and illegal activities in the Indo-Myanmar border area, the Government of India has initiated work to fence the area.
  • Comprehensive Border Infrastructure Project
    • To improve border infrastructure on India-Myanmar Border, a comprehensive border infrastructure project is being undertaken.
  • Integrated Check Posts (ICPs)
    • The government of India decided to set up Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at major entry points on our land borders.
  • Border Area Development Programme (BADP)
    • Various developmental works in the border areas have been undertaken by the MHA under the BADP as part of a comprehensive approach to border management.

Free Movement Regime (FMR)

• About
  • The Free Movement Regime is a pact between India and Myanmar that allows tribes living along the border on either side to travel up to 16 km inside the other country without a visa.
  • The FMR was implemented in 2018 as part of the government’s Act East policy at a time when diplomatic relations between India and Myanmar were on the upswing.
    • In fact, the FMR was to be put in place in 2017 itself, but was deferred due to the Rohingya refugee crisis that erupted that August.
• Rationale behind FMR
  • The boundary between India and Myanmar was demarcated by the British in 1826.
  • This effectively divided people of the same ethnicity and culture into two nations without seeking their opinion.
  • Hence, need was felt to enable ethnically similar communities living across the borders to move freely without the need of a visa.
  • The FMR was supposed to provide impetus to local trade and business.
    • However, it has been criticised for unintentionally aiding illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and gun-running.
• Current status
  • However, the agreement has been defunct since 2020, first because of the Covid pandemic.
  • After the military coup in Myanmar in 2021 and the continued escalation of its refugee crisis, India suspended the FMR in September 2022.
    • After the military coup, there was an influx of undocumented migrants.
    • Over 40,000 refugees took shelter in Mizoram, and around 4,000 refugees are said to have entered Manipur.
    • The migrants belonging to the Kuki-Chin-Zo ethnic group share ethnic ties with communities in Mizoram and Manipur.

News Summary: Free Movement Regime with Myanmar

• As per the sources in the government, Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar will end soon.
• The Centre has decided to start the tendering for an advanced smart fencing system for the entire India-Myanmar border.

Key highlights

• Rationale behind this step
  • Currently, FMR is used by insurgent groups to carry out attacks on the Indian side and flee towards Myanmar. This has to stop.
  • India also wants to put a brake on the influx of illegal immigrants, drugs and gold smuggling.
  • Earlier in September 2023, Manipur CM had urged the Centre to permanently wind up the FMR to curb illegal immigration.
• Challenges
  • There are apprehensions that States such as Nagaland and Mizoram may oppose the move.
  • However, it should be noted that border security/management is in Centre’s domain.
    • It may take note of concerns of these states but the final decision is of the Union government.