The Apex Student Body of Mizoram, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), has presented a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi vehemently opposing the central government’s move to abolish the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and implement border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border. The memorandum, submitted through Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, was also shared with the Vice President of India, the Union Home Minister, and the Union Home Secretary.
MZP, an umbrella organization representing students from Mizo and related tribes, collectively known as Zo people, and symbolizing the younger generation of Mizoram and adjacent regions, conveyed their concerns to the Prime Minister. They highlighted the historical divisions imposed on Zo people by administrative boundaries since the colonial era and international borders in the post-colonial period. Despite these divisions, the Free Movement Regime, instituted by the Government of India, has facilitated essential cultural and social interactions, such as participation in funeral rites, marriage ceremonies, visiting patients, attending religious gatherings, and engaging in local sports tournaments.
Expressing shock at the recent decision to terminate this regime, MZP emphasized that it is stripping away fundamental aspects and infringing upon their rights as human beings, echoing the sentiments of various communities worldwide. The organization pointed out the irony of the decision, considering India’s status as a global power and signatory to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 (UNDRIP). Article 36 of the declaration explicitly recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples divided by international borders to maintain and develop connections, relations, and cooperation across borders for various purposes.
In light of these considerations, the memorandum earnestly implores the Indian government to reconsider its decision. MZP believes that alternative measures can be explored to address concerns like drug trafficking and smuggling without resorting to actions that divide indigenous communities. The petition serves as a plea for thoughtful reconsideration, emphasizing the preservation of the cultural and social fabric of the Zo people across the India-Myanmar border.
