'Scrapping FMR equals independence declaration'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 18 2024:
The Indo Myanmar Friendship Gate in Zokhawthar village in Mizoram's Champhai district, witnessed protest on Thursday morning.
Responding to a call by the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO), people from both sides of the Indo-Myanmar border congregated to oppose the Central government's proposed fencing construction along the border.
L Ramdinliana Renthlei, secretary of ZORO, delivered a fiery speech, issuing a stern warning against the Government of India's intentions.
Renthlei asserted, "If the border is fenced and FMR (Free Movement Regime) is scrapped, the youths will have no other alternative but to take up arms again, and we will take it as a declaration of independence for the Zo people".
Stating that Zo people were partitioned across three countries without their consent, Renthlei vehemently criticised the government's plans to revoke the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which facilitates unrestricted movement for local communities across the border.
Renthlei underscored the community 's deep-seated desire for reunification under a single administration, echoing a longstanding aspiration among the Zo people.
He posed a question to the gathered crowd, "Are we merely going to silently witness these developments, or shall we forge ahead with unwavering determination?" ZoRO president R Sangkawia alleged that some forces are out to destroy the unity of the Zofate' or ethnic Mizos by erecting a fence and discarding the FMR.
"The Zofate, living in India, Myanmar and Bangladesh should not be disintegrated by such moves as a nation does not have borders," he said.
Adviser to Mizoram chief minister, Lahnuan-puia Punte, who is also the vice-president of ZoRO, too said that people living on both the eastern and western side of the Mizoram-Myanmar border river Tiau cannot be divided by this boundary imposed by the British colonial rulers.
The protest, themed "Unau Kan Ni, Inthen Thei Kan Ni Lo" (United by Blood and Cannot Be Parted), commenced as early as 7 am in Vaphai.
Parallel demonstrations organised by the Kuki Inpi and Kuki Students' Organisation in Manipur amplified the widespread discontent.
Hundreds of individuals from Khawmawi and neighbouring villages in Myanmar also joined the rally.
Mention may be made that the Central government justified the border fencing and the annulment of the FMR as measures to combat illegal immigration and smuggling routes.