Mizoram NGOs rally against scrapping of Free Movement Regime, submit memorandum to Amit Shah

In a unified stance against the proposed scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the construction of a border fence along the Indo-Myanmar border, Mizoram’s leading NGOs have mobilized to appeal directly to the Union Home Ministry. The NGO Co-ordination Committee, a coalition representing five prominent NGOs in the state, presented a memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging a reconsideration of these contentious decisions. The memorandum, delivered to the Secretary to the Governor at Raj Bhavan, highlighted the grave concerns held by the NGO Co-ordination Committee regarding the potential repercussions of the government’s actions on the socio-cultural fabric of Mizoram. At the core of their plea lies the preservation of ethnic and cultural ties that have long flourished across the border, integral to the identity and heritage of the Mizo people.

Expressing profound dismay at the decision to abolish the FMR, the Committee emphasized its pivotal role in fostering connections between Mizo communities on either side of the border. The memorandum invoked Mizoram’s commitment as a signatory to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, calling upon the government to honor its obligations in safeguarding the rights of indigenous peoples, especially those affected by international borders.”The Free Movement Regime stands as a cornerstone in the preservation of our shared heritage and cultural exchanges,” stated the memorandum.

“Its removal, coupled with the imposition of border fencing, threatens to sever the vital bonds that have defined our way of life.”Comprising five major organizations in Mizoram—the Central Young Mizo Association, The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Students body), Mizo Students Union, Mizo Upa Pawl (Mizoram Elders Association), and the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (Association of Mizo Women)—the NGO Co-ordination Committee represents a broad spectrum of civil society voices.