DIMAPUR — The Naga Club has appealed to the President of India and the Secretary General of the United Nations to intervene in the decision of the Indian government to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and build fence along the Indo-Myanmar border. In a letter dated March 13, the Naga Club termed the scrapping of the FMR “a crime against humanity in general and the Nagas in particular.” The FMR, initiated in the 1970s, allows people living near the...

DIMAPUR — The Phokhungri Area Public Organisation (PAPO) expressed its resentment at the decision taken by the Government of India to fence the Indo-Myanmar Border and abrogate the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar Border. In a press note, PAPO mentioned that the government should be well aware that on both sides of the ‘artificial’ border live people of the same culture and tradition, with families and relatives across the border, maintaining constant contact by visiting each other freely...

KOHIMA — The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Friday resolved to appeal to the Government of India to reconsider its decision on suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border. The resolution was unanimously adopted on the last day of the fourth session of the 14th NLA, following the discussion on matters of urgent public importance under Rule-50 pertaining to ‘Fencing of Indo-Myanmar Border’ initiated by MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu on Feb. 29. During the discussion, the...

DIMAPUR — The Tenyimi Union Dimapur (TUD) and Eastern Naga Union Dimapur (ENUD) have jointly decided to oppose any attempt to abrogate the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and border fencing on its ancestral homeland tooth and nail, while it also appealed to the legislators to stand firm and speak in one accord in this regard. While alarmed by the nefarious policy of creating another division among the kith and kin by doing away with the FMR and the proposed border...

KOHIMA — The 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly’s budget session began on Monday with the customary speech by Governor La. Ganesan, who focused on a pertinent issue, namely the suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border, among others. Earlier in January, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the government would soon fence the 1,643-km border between India and Myanmar and consider ending the FMR agreement with the neighbouring country. “This (suspension of FMR) has evoked concern...

DIMAPUR — The Naga Students’ Union Delhi (NSUD) has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, urging the centre to reconsider the decision to revoke the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and cease the construction of border fencing along the 1643 kilometre Indo-Myanmar border.  ‘The decision will have far-reaching implications, particularly for the rights of the Naga people, the socio-economic fabric of the north-east region, the Act East Policy, and India’s international image,” the student body stated in the...

DIMAPUR — The International Border Area People’s Welfare Organisation (IBAPWO) on Friday opposed the central government’s intention to abolish the Free Movement Regime and fence the Indo-Myanmar border ‘without taking into account the socio-historical implications and the existence of the Naga people.’ In a representation to the Governor of Nagaland, the organisation stated that the Nagas “had always resented the short-sighted and despotic bilateral demarcation of the international boundary that was done without their consent and knowledge.” It said that...

AIZAWL — The Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) has urged the Centre to reconsider its decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and suspend the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with the neighbouring country. In a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, NGOCC, a conglomerate of major civil society organisations and student bodies, including the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) and the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), expressed concerns over the Centre’s decisions in this regard. “Being one of the...

DIMAPUR — Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday said that the public and the state government do not agree with the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) by the central government. He said that the state government would find a solution with the people. Responding to queries raised by media persons after an event at Chümoukedima, the CM said that the centre’s decision came about because many of those in the border areas were not following guidelines, and the...

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland state cabinet has decided to request the central government to continue the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and also to “enact appropriate regulations and lay down processes for movement of people across the borders in close consultation with the people inhabiting the border areas of the State.” According to an update from the Home Department on Friday, the cabinet will also request “suitably bringing in the village council authorities concerned in the entire system of regulations of...