AIZAWL: Thousands of people joined rallies across Mizoram to voice their opposition to the Centre’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and scrap the free movement regime (FMR) with Myanmar.
Organized by the Zo Re-Unification Organization (ZORO), peaceful demonstrations took place in Zokhawthar and Vaphai villages in Champhai district of Mizoram, situated along the India-Myanmar border.
Notably, participants from Myanmar also joined the rallies across the international border.
ZORO, representing the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi tribes across India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, spearheaded the rallies.
Commencing at 7 am in Vaphai and continuing until 10 am, the procession witnessed significant participation.
Subsequently, the rally in Zokhawthar, where the India-Myanmar Friendship Gate stands, commenced at 11 am.
Participants on both sides of the Friendship Gate engaged in gestures of solidarity, waving and chanting slogans against the Indian government’s decision to dismantle the free movement regime and fence the international border.
Brandishing placards and banners, demonstrators emphasized the enduring ties within the Zo ethnic group and their historical coexistence.
The free movement regime (FMR) allowed travel up to 16 km on either side of the border.
Mizoram shares a 510-km-long border with Myanmar’s Chin state, with the Mizos sharing ethnic affinities with the Chin community.
Mizoram currently shelters over 34,000 individuals from Myanmar’s Chin state who fled following the military coup in February 2021.
The Mizoram government, along with civil society organizations and student bodies, vehemently opposes the Centre’s actions, fearing disruptions to the close ties between ethnic communities across the borders.
The Mizoram assembly passed a resolution on February 28 opposing the Centre’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and scrap the free movement regime.