Indo-Myanmar border management : A relook ?

Lt Gen (Dr) K Himalay Singh, Retd
Contd from previous issue
There were no bilateral agreements but only a tacit understanding through the amendment of the rules. No specific implementation me- chanism were put in place either.
It was only in 1967 that a serious effort to delineate the boundary was considered essential due to the instability and National security threats emerging due to the porous border where insurgent groups from the Naga, Mizo and Meitei groups raised war against India. The insurgent groups crossed the boundary for training and supply of arms and other illegal materials from China and other inimical countries since indepen- dence. CIA report also suggests that Govt of Burma under Gen Ne Win was very keen to demarcate the boundary in a formal manner due to an increasing Chinese intrusion into northern part of the country during the period. Thus, a Border Agreement was signed between the two countries with specific geographical features and ‘traditional” as boundary and delimit the entire boundary and formalise the same. A system of ‘ Permit System” was introduced for ‘Bonafide purposes” in the next year ie 1968. Permit system was mostly on paper only, since there were no mechanism for checking at the borders. Nor was there any effort of the GoI or the concerned States to enforce the so-called “Permit System’ in the FMR regime in vogue.
Thousands were crossing over particularly to India without any permit and continued to settle down in the borderlands inside India, Manipur in par- ticular since Naga Hills and Lushai Hills had a very strong land management mechanism at the village levels thus able to prevent the settlers from across to permanently settle down in their land.
Similarly, anti India and proxy insurgent groups were operating on both sides of the boundary with impunity. A massive smuggling and narcotics trade including poppy plantation thrived in the Indo- Myanmar borderlands amounting hundreds and thousands of crores a year were flourishing in the region. Gun running from Myanmar and China to North East region became rampant in the late 1960s.
As per a reply given by MoS Home in Parliament of India during 2019, Indo-Myanmar border remains unresolved in some areas of Manipur even today. Post Kargil war, the Group Of Ministers recommended and “One Border and One Force” came into force in 2002 and Border management was entrusted to Assam Rifles (AR). The AR had major concerns of infrastructure, Manpower and other resources to manage the entire 1648 Kms long border while dealing with the insurgency problems in many parts of North East India, particularly in Mani-pur and Nagaland. The border crossing mechanism underwent changes in 2004 and 2018 again. In 2004, only people residing within 16 Kms were permitted through designated entry points at Pangsau in Aruna-chal, Moreh in Manipur and Zokhtawar in Mizoram were to be crossing points. Again in 2018, it was reemphasised that border passes be accepted only for people within 16 Kms of the IB and stay was restricted to 14 days. However, as per available records, these have only been partially implemented.
Present situation and relevance of FMR
Consequent to military take over of the Government in Myanmar in February 2021, there have been large scale migration from Myanmar to Indian State of Mizoram and Mani-pur. Approximately one lac are reported to have taken shelter in these States in recent times. While Mizoram Govt have welcomed the immigrants being from similar larger ethnic groups, Manipur has seen strict opposition to the migrants in recent times.
A number of militant groups whether or not they are in peace talks/ Suspension of Operations have their bases in Myan-mar and frequently operate on both sides of the border with impunity. These groups include Naga, Meitei, Kuki groups numbering over 25 odd groups. It is believed that the narcotic trade volume in these borderlands annually are above Rs 60,000 Cr. Rampant cross border illegal smuggling and narcotics are directly fuelling the unrests in the region. Over 1800 weapons of all hues were reportedly intercepted by the security forces during 2015-2020 in the area, some of them reaching the Maoist belt also.
Involvement of Chinese and other inimical elements are suspected to be driving the illegal activities there. A few militant groups are believed to be operating alongside the military junta in Myanmar while a few Kuki-Chin-Zo groups are fighting against the junta army. The ripples of such a situation across the border are felt in the State of Manipur. These issues directly and negatively impact the National security of India and are a serious threat in the making. Geo-politics of Indo-Pacific by great powers appear to be played in some ways in these borderlands. Hence, India has no choice but to manage and re-strategise its border management mechanism in Indo-Myanmar border. Some reports suggest that the MHA is mulling over removal or recasting of the role of Assam Rifles. The ITBP or BSF are being considered. Be that as it may, It is imperative that border management here be taken seriously by the authorities in the light of serious National security threat.
Border Fencing and Envisaged Deployment
Post the decision of the GoI to fence the borders and tweaking of the FMR regime, there have been oppo- sition from certain quarters in Mizoram, Nagaland and some groups from Manipur due to the fear that cultural and ethnic affinity of respective tribes on both sides will be hit. It’s an unfounded fear since the new FMR allows cross movements as hither- to-fore. The permit system in vogue since 1967 were not known to these tribes since these rules were never implemented in the first instance, hence the fear of implementing it now.

(To be contd)