India-Myanmar Border Fencing in Manipur Underway Amid Opposition from Ethnic Groups

MOREH: The Border Roads Organization of India has started work on the construction of a border fence along the India-Myanmar border in the general area of Moreh, in Manipur's Tengnoupal district. Under Project Sewak, the project aims to improve security and vigilance in the area.

It should be mentioned that the establishment of the border fencing along the international border comes amid opposition from civil society organizations (CSOs) representing the Kuki-Zo community in the Tengnoupal district.

There has been stiff opposition from the Naga ethnic group after the Government of India devised plans to fence the entire 1,643 km of the border with Myanmar and scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) to improve surveillance along the border areas.

The Nagas across borders strongly opposed to the alleged ongoing border fencing, stating such a move not only violates human rights but will also disrupt age-old historical, cultural, economic, religious, and social ties with their brethren on the other side of the border.

Although the Naga student bodies appreciated the Centre’s efforts in addressing the alarming rise of the influx of illegal immigrants into the region, they maintained that scrapping the FMR and sealing the international border is not a tangible solution to check the influx of illegal immigrants from the neighboring country.

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