Centre yet to formally scrap FMR with Myanmar

Context: Home Minister Amit Shah had announced on February 8 that the FMR had
been scrapped to ensure internal security of the country and to maintain the
demographic structure of the northeastern States. However, the new guidelines
indicate that the regime has not been done away with but stricter regulations,
such as reducing the range of free movement to 10 km from the earlier 16 km,
have been introduced. The scrapping of the FMR was opposed by Nagaland and
Mizoram. The Nagaland government, led by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive
Party, an ally of the BJP, has passed a resolution in the Assembly against
scrapping the FMR.

Key points

·       Free
Movement Regime: Initiated in the 1970s, the FMR allowed people
living within 16 km of the India-Myanmar border to travel up to 16 km into the
other country without a visa. India shares a 1,643 km-long border with Myanmar,
which passes through the States of Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215
km), Manipur (398 km), and Mizoram (510 km). This regime recognized the
deep-rooted familial and ethnic connections between communities on either side
of the unfenced border. The FMR was last revised in 2016, aligning with India’s
Act East policy. However, it was suspended in Manipur since 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.

·       Geopolitical
Perspective: Border sharing - India and Myanmar share a significant land
border of over 1600 km and a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal,
emphasizing the importance of stability in Myanmar for India.

Geostrategic
Location - Myanmar’s location is pivotal for India’s “Act East” policy and the
development of the Northeast region, acting as a vital link between South Asia
and Southeast Asia.

Chinese
Influence - India sees Myanmar as a strategic partner to counterbalance China’s
expanding influence in the region, emphasizing the need for enhanced bilateral
engagement.

·       Socioeconomic
Perspective: Indian Diaspora - Myanmar is home to a sizable population of
Indian origin, estimated at around 2.5 million, strengthening people-to-people
ties between the two nations.

Bilateral Trade
-
India ranks as Myanmar’s fifth-largest trading partner, registering bilateral
trade at USD 1.03 billion in 2021-22.

·       Reasons
for the Policy Shift: Drug Trafficking and Insurgency - Myanmar’s
status as an opium producer fuels drug trafficking and supports insurgent
groups in India’s northeastern states.

Refugee Influx
Post-Coup - Following Myanmar’s military coup in February 2021, over 40,000 refugees
entered Mizoram, and around 4,000 entered Manipur, exacerbating security
concerns.

Local Government
Stance - Manipur’s Chief Minister urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to cancel
the FMR and complete border fencing, linking ethnic violence in the state to
the free movement across the border.

·       Way
forward: Border Fencing - The government plans to fence about 300 km of
the border, with a tender expected soon.

Regulatory
Revisions - Experts suggest refining the FMR to better regulate movement while
maintaining cross-border ties.

Community
Engagement - Involving border communities in decision-making is crucial for effective
and sensitive border management.

Infrastructure
and Trade - Enhancing infrastructure and formalizing trade at designated entry
points could mitigate some negative impacts.