Latest news with #FreeMovementRegime
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Manipur's ex-CM Biren Singh, Leishemba Sanajaoba meet Amit Shah, seek assistance to restore peace in state
Guwahati: Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba met Union Home minister Amit Shah and sought his assistance in restoring peace in Manipur and installing a popular government. Both the leaders held two rounds of discussions on June 9 and June 10 with Shah. Manipur has been under President's rule since February this year. Talking to media persons on his arrival in Imphal from New Delhi, Biren Singh said Shah has assured them that there would be no compromise on the territorial integrity of Manipur. He said Shah made an appeal for restoring peace in the state. 'We discussed several issues, including the plight of internally displaced people , the current crisis in Manipur and the Free Movement Regime. Shah has started meeting community leaders as a step towards resolving the crisis,' Biren Singh said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cyberjaya: New Two Bed Senior Apartments Are Stunning! (Take A Look) Senior Living | Search Ads Search Now Undo 'We have apprised him on the demand for a popular government in the state. Shah assured that they also want to form a government but will observe the situation and take a call after discussions.' Recently, Manipur witnessed fresh protests and prohibitory orders was clamped in the five valley districts. The Manipur government has suspended Internet and mobile data services in five valley districts for five days after protests in Imphal East and Imphal West districts following the arrest of a leader of the Meitei radical outfit 'Arambai Tenggol'. Live Events
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Naga student bodies picket govt offices in Manipur
Imphal: The people's movement against the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the border fencing construction gained momentum with the closure of govt offices called by the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) in the Naga-inhabited areas on Monday. In Ukhrul, the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), the apex student body of the Tangkhul community, enforced the first day of agitation at Ukhrul headquarters. The office picketing has completely paralysed all activities of govt offices. "In consonance with the stand of ANSAM, against the revocation of FMR and the imposed border fencing across the Naga homeland, the TKS expresses its unwavering support and joins the collective voice of the Naga people," TKS said. All govt offices within the jurisdiction of Rongmei Naga Students Organisation were also picketed in the presence of Angteshang Maring, president of ANSAM and his team. Picketing govt offices was also executed in Tamenglong district, with various student bodies and organisations taking the lead, sources said. "Let us unite in our quest for justice and the preservation of our land and rights. Together, we're making our voices heard. Our collective efforts are a testament to the power of unity and solidarity. Let us continue to stand strong and advocate for the rights of the Naga community without borders," read the joint statement issued by the student bodies.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Reinstate Free Movement Regime, roll back districts created in 2016: Manipur Naga body to Governor
GUWAHATI: Manipur's United Naga Council (UNC) has sought the reinstatement of the Free Movement Regime in the Naga areas on either side of the India-Myanmar border, and the rollback of seven districts created in 2016. In a memorandum to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on May 2, the UNC said the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) in February severed the deep historical, cultural, and familial ties of the Naga communities straddling the 1,643 km long India-Myanmar border. The memorandum was signed by the organisation's president Ng. Lorho and general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang. The FMR allowed any member of a hill tribe who is a citizen of either India or Myanmar, and resides within 16 km of the border on either side, to cross the border on the production of a border pass, and stay up to two weeks per visit. Such a pass was valid for a year. The UNC said the scrapping of the FMR had affected the Tangkhul, Anal, Moyon, Lamkang, and Maring Naga communities who live along the border from the Ukhrul to Chandel districts in Manipur and the Sagaing Division in Myanmar. The UNC noted that the amended Passport (Entry into India) Rules of 1950 and the India-Burma Treaty in 1952 allowed the members of the hill tribes to move within 40 km of the border without visa restrictions for socio-economic reasons. It said the boundary was delimited and demarcated in 1967 without the informed consent of the impacted people. Attempts to address the historical injustice to the Nagas led to the FMR, which underwent periodic revisions until January 18, when the border residents of both countries were allowed to move freely up to 16 km from the boundary line and stay up to 72 hours without visa restrictions. 'Our livelihoods are significantly interwoven with cross-border interactions,' the UNC said, pointing out that the scrapping of the FMR and push for a border fence violated Article 36 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007. Although India did not sign the declaration, it voted in favour of its adoption in 2007. Article 36 states: 'Indigenous peoples, in particular, those divided by international borders, have the right to maintain and develop contacts, relations and co-operation, including activities for spiritual, cultural, economic and social purposes, with their members as well as other peoples across borders.' Affecting wildlife The UNC said that the abrupt ending of the FMR and the construction of fencing 'on the pretext of security reasons, proliferation of arms smuggling and drugs, and influx of illegal immigrants' was an attempt to further bifurcate the indigenous Nagas. The organisation said the fencing in an 80 km stretch of the border in the Naga-dominated areas of the Chandel and Tengnoupal districts would violate international environmental laws, including the Convention on Migratory Species, which requires migratory routes to be protected. 'Such fences not only affect people, but also wildlife... by blocking seasonal migrations of large animals, reducing genetic and species diversity...' it said. The lopsided narrative of the governments of India and Manipur to end the FMR and construct the India-Myanmar border fencing has displeased many frontier communities, the UNC said, underscoring the need to reinstate the FMR and drop the fencing plan. Stakeholders ignored The UNC said the Naga stakeholders were ignored when the Okram Ibobi Singh-headed Congress government created seven districts in December 2016. Apart from keeping the Naga people in the dark, the move dishonoured four memoranda of understanding between the government and Naga groups, and an assurance from the Centre in 2011 to maintain the status quo. The seven districts the Naga groups are opposed to are Jiribam, Kamjong, Kakching, Tengnoupal, Noney, Pherzawl, and Kangpokpi. These were carved out of the Imphal East, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur, and Chandel districts, respectively. The Nagas rejected the creation of these districts by holding demonstrations at the headquarters of the Naga-majority districts on December 15, 2016, and enforcing a 139-day economic blockade on two arterial national highways connecting Imphal to the rest of the country. '...the UNC finds it imperative to highlight the unresolved issue of district rollback, particularly in light of the increasingly violent geographical contestations between conflicting parties in Manipur,' the organisation, representing all Naga tribes of the State, said.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Global Naga Forum slams govt over FMR area cut, Indo-Myanmar border fence
The Global Naga Forum has criticised the Centre's decision to reduce the area of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border in Nagaland. The government's revised border guidelines issued in December 2024, limit cross-border movement under FMR to just 10 km from the border and impose a "border pass" system. An eight-point resolution was adopted during an international hybrid seminar on FMR held under the aegis of Global Naga Forum on Monday and attended by representatives of Naga political parties, civil society organizations, student bodies, scholars, and concerned citizens from across Nagaland and abroad. The declaration, released by the Global Naga Forum (GNF) through its Convenor Chuba Ozukum and Co-Convenor Prof Rosemary Dzuvichu, warned that these measures infringe on indigenous rights, threaten Naga unity, and undermine the centuries-old kinship ties between communities divided by international border. They claimed that fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border and surveillance would further criminalise the Nagas way of life. "The Centre must recognise that resolving the Naga political issue is of far greater importance than introducing new layers of unrest," the joint recommendation stated. The FMR, which allowed cross-border movement of communities living along the India-Myanmar border, has long been vital to indigenous trade, worship, and familial bonds, they said. "Elected Naga leaders must stand with the people. The state government of Nagaland and all Naga representativesregardless of state or political affiliationmust take a firm stand against fencing and surveillance. They are accountable first to the Naga people, not to external political pressures...," the resolution adopted in the seminar said.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nagaland govt to hold meet on FMR, PAP tomorrow
Dimapur: The Nagaland govt has convened a consultative meeting with civil society organisations in the state banquet hall, Kohima, on Wednesday to deliberate on pressing issues such as the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border, Protected Area Permit (PAP), maintenance of peace in the state, Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the Naga political issue . The meeting will also discuss Naga customary laws, the Nagaland Village and Tribal Area Council Act, Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland and road development with special reference to the construction of Foothill road and Showba-Pangsa road, the state home department said on Monday. CM Neiphiu Rio, deputy chief ministers TR Zeliang and Y Patton, Nagaland assembly speaker Sharingain Longkumer, all ministers, two Lok Sabha members of Parliament, all MLAs, chief secretary, along with other senior officials of the state govt will be present in the meeting. The govt has requested the civil society organisations to attend the meeting with three representatives each. Dimapur: The Nagaland govt has convened a consultative meeting with civil society organisations in the state banquet hall, Kohima, on Wednesday to deliberate on pressing issues such as the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border, Protected Area Permit (PAP), maintenance of peace in the state, Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the Naga political issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads View Deals Undo The meeting will also discuss Naga customary laws, the Nagaland Village and Tribal Area Council Act, Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland and road development with special reference to the construction of Foothill road and Showba-Pangsa road, the state home department said on Monday. CM Neiphiu Rio, deputy chief ministers TR Zeliang and Y Patton, Nagaland assembly speaker Sharingain Longkumer, all ministers, two Lok Sabha members of Parliament, all MLAs, chief secretary, along with other senior officials of the state govt will be present in the meeting. The govt has requested the civil society organisations to attend the meeting with three representatives each.
