The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Mizoram’s apex student body, has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reconsider the Centre’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fence the Indo-Myanmar border. In a letter submitted through Governor VK Singh, the MZP emphasized the FMR’s role in fostering cross-border cultural, economic, and community ties between ethnic Mizos in India and Myanmar. The regime facilitates interactions crucial to preserving the Mizo way of life, including shared participation in cultural and religious ceremonies.
“The proposed termination of the FMR and border fencing threaten to sever these historical and cultural bonds, infringing upon the rights of indigenous communities and disrupting the interconnectedness of our lives,” the letter stated. The MZP also cited India’s obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 2007, particularly Article 36, which upholds the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain cross-border relations.
Calling the move “disheartening,” the MZP urged the government to uphold democratic principles and ensure the rights of indigenous communities are respected. The organization stressed that the decision could jeopardize the region’s cultural and economic fabric.
