Manipur tribal organization will protest against fencing on India-Myanmar border

A tribal organization from Manipur’s Churachandpur district said it will “protest” the Centre’s decision to erect fencing along the India-Myanmar border. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) held a public consultation in the district headquarters town on Saturday to discuss the Centre’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and revoke the free movement regime, a statement issued by the ITLF said. A resolution was taken to “protest”. ,

Free movement arrangements allow people living on either side of the border to travel up to 16 km into each other’s territory without a visa. Four Indian states – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, share a 1,643 km long border with Myanmar.

ITLF has also decided to approach the Mizoram government for “the political future of the Kuki Zo people”, the statement said.

More than 31,000 people from Myanmar, mostly from Chin State, have taken refuge in Mizoram following the military coup in the neighboring country in February 2021. Many people have also taken refuge in Manipur.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Guwahati on January 20 that the government will end free movement of people along the India-Myanmar border and completely fence it so that it can be protected like the country’s border with Bangladesh.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)