03 Jan Cancelling of Free Movement Regime at India-Myanmar border
This article covers ‘ Daily Current Affairs ’ and the content details of ‘ Indian Government to End free movement Regime at Myanmar border ’ This content is applicable in the “ India and India’s neighborhood ” section of the UPSC CSE test.
GS 2 : India and its neighborhood
Why in the News?
The Indian government has vowed that it’ll no longer allow free movement at the Myanmar border, meaning a visa will be needed to enter India. The Indian Government is planning to make a 300- kilometer smart hedge system between India and Myanmar, and work is anticipated to start soon.
About Free Movement Regime( FMR)-
- In 2018, the Free Movement Regime was brought as part of India’s Act East Policy to strengthen India’s ties with Myanmar. This allows those who live near to the India- Myanmar border to enter each other’s nation for over to 16 kilometres without a visa they may cross with a border pass that’s good for a time and stay for an outside of two weeks at a time.
- It’s the duty of both governments to apply FMR for people living near to the border.
- The purpose of this governance was to encourage cross-border trade, marriages, and common festivity of leaves in further trans- border communities by the occupants.
- In 2020, the Manipur government formally put a stop to FMR.
Reasons to end the Free Movement Regime-
- Misused by insurgents : Insurgent groups use FMR to launch strikes against the Indian side and create unrest in North-East India. Many Insurgent groups like ULFA, NDB, NSCN-K etc. have launchpads in Myanmar.
- High Influx of Anti-Junta rebels : The Myanmar military overthrew the civilian government on February 1, 2021, announcing a one-year period of emergency. Since then thousands of anti-junta rebels have entered India creating an economic burden on the North-East part of the country and also deteriorating the relations between India and Myanmar.
- Illegal activities : There are worries over gun smuggling, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and illegal immigration as a result of the porous and unfenced border between India and Myanmar.
- Deforestation: The Manipur government has accused village heads for facilitating the deforestation by relocating migrants from Myanmar to new villages.
Significance of Myanmar for India
Geo-political significance :
- Myanmar is the only nation that lies at the intersection of India’s “Act East” and “Neighborhood First” policies.
- Myanmar is an important member of BIMSTEC, ASEAN, MEKONG GANGA cooperation. Hence, Myanmar is important for India
Geo-economic significance :
- India is developing certain projects like India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral highway and kaladan multi-modal project in order to link India’s landlocked north eastern states to Sittwe port of Myanmar.
- Myanmar has adequate Oil and natural reserves, which is important for India to tackle its concern about Energy security.
Geo strategic significance :
- Important for national security as local armed separatist groups like NSCN-K, NDB, ULFA etc are operating on Myanmar’s soil.
- Proximity to Golden Triangle enable the environment for the traffickers to smuggle heroin and psychotropic substances into India
- Increasing China’s role in Myanmar is undermining India’s leadership role in South Asia. So can’t go against Junta rule of Myanmar as it will further deteriorate the relation between India and Myanmar.
Steps taken for better relations between India and Myanmar
- In the Rakhine state of Myanmar, India has manufactured the Sittwe port as part of India’s SAGAR Vision. This port is designed to serve as India’s response to Kyaukpyu port, which is developed by China and in order to to strengthen China’s geostrategic influence
- India signed an MOU with Myanmar for the ”Rakhine state’s development programme” under which India will build prefabricated housing in Rakhine State.
- India abstained from voting on the Myanmar resolution regarding Junta rule at various times at UNSC and UNGA.
Conclusion :
India needs a cautious and well-rounded strategy to address these issues, taking into account the complexity of the actual scenario. Complete cancellation on FMR will have an impact on the cultural assimilation of the people across the border.
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Prelims Question
Q) What is a Junta?
A religious ceremony
Constellation of stars
A legal tender issued by government
A military group that rules a country after seizing power
Answer – D
Mains Question
Q) How China is impacting the relation between India and Myanmar and what steps are taken by India to tackle the issue of the rohingya refugee crisis in Rakhine state?
I am a content developer and have done my Post Graduation in Political Science. I have given 2 UPSC mains, 1 IB ACIO interview and have cleared UGC NET JRF too.
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