‘By fencing Myanmar border, govt will only create another Berlin Wall… For centuries, same people have inhabited both sides’: Manipur tribal forum leader

Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, has been at the forefront of articulating the anxieties, problems and demands of the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur, since the onset of violence in the state in May 2023. As a representative of an influential civil society organisation of tribal people in Manipur, Vualzong has been part of multiple rounds of talks between the Centre and Kuki-Zo delegations from the state. On Wednesday, under the aegis of Zo United, his delegation had a detailed discussion with the Centre’s pointsperson for the Northeast, A K Mishra. He spoke to The Indian Express on the situation in Manipur.

Excerpts:

The Union Home Minister has announced withdrawal of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) from the Indo-Myanmar border, and the fencing of all of Manipur’s border with Myanmar.

The Centre’s cancellation of FMR will hurt the sentiments of many people in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram. For centuries, the same people with the same tradition and culture have inhabited both sides of the boundary. We were only divided by an international boundary drawn by the British. The people and lands remain the same. Unfortunately, without our consent, our people have been split up into three countries — Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

By fencing the border, the government will only create another Berlin Wall. We request the government to reconsider its decision on FMR. Even the governments and NGOs of Mizoram and Nagaland are with us on this. Also, to abolish the FMR will be against the principles of the Look East and Act East policies of the Centre.

The violence in Manipur is refusing to ebb. Why?

If the government wanted to resolve the issue, it could have defused the crisis. When they know law and