Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has opposed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement to fence the India-Myanmar border and reconsider the existing Free Movement Regime (FMR) between the two countries. Lalduhoma stated that while the state government does not have the authority to prevent the central government from erecting border fencing and scrapping the FMR, it would strongly oppose both moves.
He emphasized that the border with Myanmar in Mizoram was unilaterally imposed by the British without consulting the Mizo-Zo-Chin community people on both sides, and they do not accept the boundary. Lalduhoma noted that Mizoram shares ethnic and cultural ties with the Chin-Zo community in Myanmar.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced the decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and reconsider the existing free movement agreement. The FMR allows citizens residing close to both sides of the border to move 16 km into each other's territory without passport or visa.
Mizoram's civil society organizations, including the Young Mizo Association (CYMA) and the students' body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), have been opposing the central government's decision. Lalduhoma had discussed the issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit to Delhi, and they did not oppose his appeal on both matters.
(With Agency Inputs)
