FREE MOVEMENT REGIME WITH MYANMAR

Posted 15 Mar 2024

3 min read

Why in the News?

Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to scrap Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar.

It permits individuals residing within a 16 km radius of the border to traverse freely, without requirements of a visa or other documentation.
It was formalized in 2018 as part of India’s Act East Policy.
FMR regime conceptualized due to following reasons
- Strong ethnic and familial ties across the border: The border demarcated by the British in 1826 effectively divided people of the same ethnicity and culture into two nations without their consent.
- Local trade and business: The region has a long history of trans-border commerce through customs and border haats. Given the low-income economy, such exchanges are vital for the sustenance of local livelihoods.

Illegal immigration: Uncontrolled immigration of Chin people from Myanmar leading to demographic changes in the region.
Ethnic violence and insurgency: Meitei community attributed last year’s tensions to the perceived illegal migration of tribal Kuki-Chin communities.
Entry of soldiers from Myanmar: Exodus of junta soldiers seeking sanctuary in Mizoram which has serious security implications in India’s northeast.
Surge in narcotics production in Myanmar: A report by UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) linked Myanmar’s political turmoil under military junta to surge in flow of narcotics in the region.

Other aspects of India-Myanmar relations

Commercial and Economic relations: Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement (BIPA) and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) signed in 2008.
- India and Myanmar both are signatories to the India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement.
Regional connectivity projects: Both are cooperating under Kaladan Multi-Modal Project, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, etc.
Multilateral/regional/sub-regional cooperation: Both countries are members of BIMSTEC and Mekong-Ganga Cooperation.
- Myanmar was given status of observer in SAARC in 2008.
Defense cooperation: Joint military exercise named India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise (IMBAX) is aimed at building and promoting closer relations with armies of the two countries.

Border management: Union and the state governments as well as the border residents ensure that the border between India- and Myanmar is effectively secured and regulated.
- Strengthen security of the border by either giving the Assam Rifles the single mandate of guarding the border or deploying another border guarding force on Indo - Myanmar border.
- Expedite construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) along with other infrastructure.
Diplomatic: There is a need of diplomatic agility in India’s engagement with Myanmar, including with military junta, to promote and protect national and regional interests.
- Weigh in the impact of action taken vis-à-vis corresponding benefits accrued in the context of regional security and India’s ‘Act East’ policy initiatives.
Community engagement: Involve tribal communities in decision making to address sensitive issues and tribal fault lines as was visible in last year’s Manipur violence.