Context: Union Home Minister has recently stated that the porous India-Myanmar border will be fenced, and the Free Movement Regime (FMR) that allows entry without travel documents will be abolished.

What is the Free Movement Regime (FMR) on the India-Myanmar Border?

• The FMR is a mutually agreed pact between India and Myanmar that allowed tribes along the border to travel 16 km inside the other country without a visa.

• It was implemented in 2018.

• It was a part of the Act East policy of India.

• FMR help addressed the division caused by the 1826 British-drawn border, facilitating people-to-people contact, local trade, and trans-border commerce.

• The Mizo, Kuki, and Chins, collectively called Zo people, share a common ancestry and have a robust ethnic tie. 

• The members of hill tribes have to produce a border pass, which is valid for a year, and can stay in the other country for about 2 weeks per visit.

• For people living near Myanmar border, Indian towns are closer for business, education, and healthcare than those in their own country.

Issues leading to scrapping of FMR

• Insurgents, illegal immigrants, and drug traffickers misuse FMR, often creating trouble in the Manipur state.

• Myanmar junta’s persecution had led to an influx of Myanmarese tribals into India, especially into Manipur and Mizoram.

• Insurgent groups exploit porous borders for smuggling drugs and weapons, leading to concerns about FMR aiding illegal activities and threatening India’s internal security.

• Many insurgent groups such as United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) have constructed their camps in Myanmar.

• The India-Myanmar Border goes through forested terrain which is difficult to monitor.

About India-Myanmar Border

• India and Myanmar have a border of length 1,643 kilometres that runs from the tripoint with China in the north to the tripoint with Bangladesh in the south.

• India mostly shares an unfenced border with Myanmar.

• 4 North-Eastern States which are- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share international boundary with Myanmar

• Assam Rifles (AR) has been deployed along this border to monitor and check infiltration across the border.