Granting Separate Administration/Union Territory for Kuki-Zo is the Safest Way to Secure India’s Border: BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip

Saikot BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip has emphasized that granting a Separate Administration or Union Territory to the Kuki-Zo people is the safest way to secure India's border. Haokip made this statement while addressing a large demonstration in Lamka on Tuesday, where protesters rallied against the government's decision to scrap the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR).

The demonstration, organized by the United Zou Organisation (UZO), began at the 'Wall of Remembrance' at 11:30 am, with participants holding posters and placards, raising slogans against the government’s move to eliminate the FMR and fence the international border.

"No border fencing can sever our cultural ties," one demonstrator said.

Haokip, who was joined by Henglep MLA Letzamang Haokip, Singngat MLA Chinlunthang, and other leaders from various Kuki-Zo tribes, stated that the Kuki-Zo people are not a threat to India's security. He emphasized that while Kuki-Zo people in Myanmar are fighting for democracy; those in India are seeking justice against a regime with political motives to break away from India.

“We, the Kuki-Zo people, are not a threat to India’s security. Our people across the border in Myanmar are fighting for democracy in that country; they are nationalist Myanmarese. Those of us in India are fighting for justice against a regime whose deepest political motives are to break away from India," said Haokip. "The real threat to India’s security is forcing the Kuki-Zo people to live under a secessionist Meitei regime. The separate administration and Union Territory that we demand today is the safest way of securing India’s border."

He further appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to consider the Kuki-Zo people's demands, asserting that their calls for Union Territory would safeguard India’s border more effectively than the current border fencing plans.

Singngat MLA Chinlunthang proposed that if border fencing is to be constructed, it should be constructed on the Kangvai border between Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur and Meitei-dominated Bishnupur, rather than Behiang. “The people of Behiang do not need border fencing to keep them secure,” said Singngat MLA Chinlunthang.

In a moment of solemn reflection, the demonstrators observed a one-minute silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the ongoing ethnic violence in the state, which has claimed more than 250 lives since May of last year.

The demonstration ended with a memorandum addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, submitted to Deputy Commissioner Dharun Kumar by UZO leaders.

The FMR, which allowed people residing near the India-Myanmar border to travel up to 16 km into each other's territory without documents, was scrapped in February. The decision followed the announcement by Amit Shah that India would fence the entire 1,643 km-long India-Myanmar border, passing through Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.

The FMR had been implemented in 2018 as part of India's Act East policy, aimed at enhancing cross-border cooperation with Myanmar.