AIZWAL, Jan 6 : Mizoram-based Zo Reunification Organisation (ZoRO) has denounced the recent restrictions on cross-border movement at Zokhawthar along the Mizoram-Myanmar border in Champhai district, calling it a violation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
In a statement issued on Monday, ZoRO highlighted that the Ministry of Home Affairs (Border Management-I Division) had directed Mizoram’s Chief Secretary on December 24, 2024, to implement stricter border control measures. This was followed by instructions from the state Home Department to the Director General of Police (DGP) on December 30, leading to tighter restrictions from January 1.
Subsequently, the Champhai district Superintendent of Police issued a public notice on January 3, mandating border passes for anyone seeking to cross into Myanmar.
ZoRO expressed concern over the move, citing Article 36 of the UNDRIP, which safeguards the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain cultural, spiritual, and economic ties across international borders. “The UNDRIP, adopted by 144 countries, including India, on September 13, 2007, recognises the inherent rights of indigenous peoples stemming from their cultures, traditions, and histories,” ZoRO stated.
The organisation recalled its earlier gratitude expressed to Indian leaders when the country endorsed the UNDRIP but lamented that the current administration’s actions contradicted those commitments. It criticised the discontinuation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which had previously allowed greater mobility for indigenous communities along the Indo-Myanmar border.
ZoRO argued that requiring border passes for individuals from both nations infringes on the rights protected under UNDRIP and suppresses the historical and cultural bonds of communities divided during the colonial era.
The group, advocating for the unification of Mizo communities across India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, urged the government to restore the FMR. “ZoRO will continue its efforts to safeguard the rights of indigenous peoples and fight against these injustices,” the statement declared.
(UNI)
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