Roadmap for Answer Writing
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Introduction
- Briefly introduce the FMR and its purpose.
- Mention its significance in fostering cross-border movement, trade, and cultural ties between India and Myanmar.
- State the current scenario where India has decided to dismantle the FMR and fence the border.
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Positive Implications
- Improved Surveillance and Border Control: Explain how fencing will enhance surveillance, curb illegal trade, and secure the border.
- Restriction on Illegal Migration: Discuss how scrapping the FMR helps in curbing illegal migration, especially post-2021 Myanmar coup.
- Reduced Cross-Border Insurgency: Address how the fencing would minimize the infiltration of insurgent groups operating across the border.
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Negative Implications
- Impact on Livelihoods: Illustrate how border residents depend on the FMR for work and trade, highlighting the livelihood impacts.
- Strained Ethnic and Cultural Ties: Discuss the long-standing ethnic and cultural ties and how scrapping the FMR could affect those connections.
- Security Concerns: Explain how the dismantling of the FMR could reignite anti-establishment sentiments and lead to renewed insurgency activities.
- Impact on Act East Policy: Analyze how the end of the FMR might hinder India’s outreach and ties with Southeast Asia, particularly in relation to the Act East Policy.
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Conclusion
- Summarize the pros and cons of scrapping the FMR.
- Provide a balanced view, mentioning that while security concerns are valid, the social and diplomatic costs could be significant.
- Suggest that a nuanced approach could help balance both security and regional stability.
Relevant Facts for the Answer
- Purpose of FMR
- The Free Movement Regime allowed people from both India and Myanmar to travel up to 16 km into each other’s territories without a visa, fostering local trade and cultural exchanges.
- Improved Surveillance and Border Control
- India has decided to fence the 1,643 km long border with Myanmar, similar to its fenced borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. This move is aimed at improving border surveillance and curbing illegal trade.
- Restriction on Illegal Migration
- Following Myanmar’s military coup in 2021, there has been a notable rise in the migration of Myanmar nationals into India. The scrapping of the FMR aims to prevent such unauthorized migration, which has fueled tensions in border areas like Manipur.
- Reduced Cross-Border Insurgency
- Insurgent groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have used Myanmar as a base for carrying out attacks in northeastern India. Scrapping the FMR and fencing the border is expected to reduce the movement of such insurgents.
- Impact on Livelihoods
- Villages like Zowkhatar in Mizoram, which rely on crossing the border for employment and trade, will be severely impacted by the termination of the FMR.
- Strained Ethnic and Cultural Ties
- The FMR facilitated trade and marriages between ethnic communities like the Mizos and Nagas, who live on both sides of the India-Myanmar border. Scrapping the FMR risks disrupting these deep-rooted ties.
- Impact on Act East Policy
- The FMR, introduced in 2018 as part of India’s Act East Policy, was aimed at strengthening India’s diplomatic and economic relations with Southeast Asia. Ending it may hinder these efforts.
- Security Concerns and Ethnic Sentiments
- Disruption of ethnic ties could potentially revive insurgencies in the region, such as the Naga insurgency, which thrives on ethnic and cultural divides.
Model Answer
Introduction
The Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar allowed people from both countries to travel up to 16 km into each other’s territory without a visa. This system fostered border trade, cultural exchanges, and strengthened ties. However, the recent decision by India to dismantle the FMR and fence the border raises several consequences for both countries.
Positive Implications of Scrapping FMR
1. Improved Surveillance and Border Control:
The fencing of the 1643 km border, coupled with enhanced surveillance, will curb illegal activities such as drug trafficking, timber trade, and smuggling of gold. For example, following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, Manipur saw an increase in drug seizures from the border region.
2. Restriction on Illegal Migration:
The decision helps prevent the influx of illegal migrants from Myanmar, especially after the 2021 coup. Tensions in Manipur related to illegal migration of Kuki-Chin communities from Myanmar highlight this concern.
3. Reduced Cross-Border Insurgency:
Fencing the border can help prevent insurgent groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom from using Myanmar as a base for attacks in Assam.
Negative Implications of Scrapping FMR
1. Livelihood Impact:
Local border residents, such as those in Mizoram’s Zowkhatar village, depend on the ability to cross the border for work and trade. Ending the FMR will disrupt these livelihoods.
2. Strained Ethnic and Cultural Ties:
The FMR has facilitated long-standing cultural and familial connections between people on both sides of the border, particularly among ethnic groups like the Mizos and Nagas. Its termination could strain these ties.
3. Security Concerns:
The end of the FMR could inflame anti-government sentiments, potentially reviving insurgency movements, such as the Naga insurgency, which thrives on ethnic divisions.
4. Impact on India’s Act East Policy:
The FMR was integral to India’s Act East Policy, aimed at improving ties with Southeast Asia. Its removal might hinder India’s diplomatic and economic outreach to the region.
Conclusion
While the dismantling of the FMR provides certain security benefits, it comes with significant challenges, including social disruption, economic costs, and strategic setbacks. Balancing security needs with regional stability will be crucial moving forward.