Free Movement Regime (FMR) asserting that any policy that aims to further divide us should be opposed tooth and nail.

It also stated that the NDPP-BJP coalition government should strongly oppose the proposed scrapping of the FMR. “If necessary, all the 60 MLAs should meet either the Prime Minister or his Home Minister and convey the strong feelings of the Naga people that under no circumstances the construction of the fencing will be allowed,” advised the RPP in a press release.

The party expressed concern on the recent issue of the FMR especially for the Nagas where such decisions can have implications for border communities and regional relations. The Free Movement Regime (FMR) which allows people residing on either side of the India-Myanmar border to venture 16 km into each other’s territory without visa, according to RPP,  is alarming and a wake-up call for Nagas.

“Apart from the proposed visa travel, the central government aims to construct high security fencing along the border. Nagas are already the most geographically divided people and this proposal will only heighten the divide amongst the Naga people.  Therefore, any policy that aims to further divide us should be opposed tooth and nail,” asserted the Party.

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“The ineptitude of CM Biren Singh and his communal policies cannot be the excuse for the central government to scrap the FMR. It may be recalled that in 2017 the Burmese junta proposed to fence the international border near Pangsha under Noklak district but was subsequently dropped due to strong and spirited opposition by the people,” reminded the RPP.

It urged the Prime Minister to uphold the age old mechanism which allows people across borders to converge and live as honourable peoples, whether Nagas or Zo-Kuki. With various forms of FMR been in place since the creation of the state in 1963 respecting the needs and the sentiments of the Naga people living on both sides of the border, the RPP noted that this needs to be respected and upheld.