SHILLONG, AUGUST 27 (MExN): The Wesean Student Federation (WSF) has strongly condemned the decision of the Central government to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR), terming it an assault on the historic, cultural and social ties of border communities across Northeast India and Myanmar.
In a statement issued by its Executive Council, the WSF said the FMR was “not a bureaucratic convenience but a recognition of living human ties — kinship, marriage, livelihood, ritual and memory — that long predated the modern borders.” It warned that scrapping it would “sever families, extinguish livelihoods and criminalise ways of life that have existed for centuries.”
The Federation noted that the Centre had announced its decision to end the FMR in 2024 and said this would impact not only the Nagas but also Zos, Kachins, Meiteis and other border communities. “Already, tens of thousands have been mapped and registered under intrusive biometric arrangements, presented as ‘security’ but in practice separating families and communities,” it said.
WSF demanded restoration of the FMR, a halt to fencing through village lands, and meaningful consultation with community institutions. It also called for transparency on India’s policy toward the Myanmar junta, demanding publication of verifiable information on any security cooperation or transfers that could sustain violence in Myanmar.
Referring to the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3, 2023, which left hundreds dead and displaced thousands, the Federation asked: “Where was India when Manipur burned?” It alleged that government priorities appeared focused on mapping critical minerals in the Northeast rather than addressing the suffering of its people.
Extending solidarity to the United Naga Council and other organisations, the WSF said it would support every lawful protest and forum of negotiation. “The peoples of Wesea will not be reduced to security targets on a map. We will not allow our histories, families and futures to be fenced off, fingerprinted or monetised,” the statement declared.
.jpg)
