<p>Imphal: An apex body of the Kuki tribes in Manipur has expressed concern over the Union government’s “abrupt” decision about ending the free movement of people at the India-Myanmar border and fencing it completely.</p>.<p>The Kuki Inpi Manipur, in a statement, said fencing will not address some of the “complex challenges”. It, however, did not elaborate about such challenges.</p>.<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Saturday said the government has decided that the India-Myanmar border, which is open, will be protected by barbed fencing.</p>.<p>“The entire border will have barbed fencing like what we have at the India-Bangladesh border. The Indian government is rethinking the free movement agreement with Myanmar. Now, the Government of India is going to stop this facility,' he had said in Assam’s Guwahati.</p>.Centre to end free movement of people at India-Myanmar border, fence it completely.<p>The statement by the Kuki Inpi Manipur said it is “profoundly dismayed by the abrupt decision to implement border fencing along the India-Myanmar border, coupled with the move for the cancellation of Free Movement Regime (FMR). The unforeseen development has prompted a profound sense of concern within the Kuki Zo community”.</p>.<p>The organisation also appealed to the Centre to 'reassess this course of action”.</p>.<p>“It is crucial to recognise that the border fencing will not address the complex challenges....” the statement added.</p>.<p>The FMR allows people living on both sides of the border to travel 16 km into each other's territory without a visa. Four Indian states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, share a 1,643-km border with Myanmar.</p>.<p>Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had earlier spoken in favour of the border fencing and cancellation of FMR.</p>
<p>Imphal: An apex body of the Kuki tribes in Manipur has expressed concern over the Union government’s “abrupt” decision about ending the free movement of people at the India-Myanmar border and fencing it completely.</p>.<p>The Kuki Inpi Manipur, in a statement, said fencing will not address some of the “complex challenges”. It, however, did not elaborate about such challenges.</p>.<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Saturday said the government has decided that the India-Myanmar border, which is open, will be protected by barbed fencing.</p>.<p>“The entire border will have barbed fencing like what we have at the India-Bangladesh border. The Indian government is rethinking the free movement agreement with Myanmar. Now, the Government of India is going to stop this facility,' he had said in Assam’s Guwahati.</p>.Centre to end free movement of people at India-Myanmar border, fence it completely.<p>The statement by the Kuki Inpi Manipur said it is “profoundly dismayed by the abrupt decision to implement border fencing along the India-Myanmar border, coupled with the move for the cancellation of Free Movement Regime (FMR). The unforeseen development has prompted a profound sense of concern within the Kuki Zo community”.</p>.<p>The organisation also appealed to the Centre to 'reassess this course of action”.</p>.<p>“It is crucial to recognise that the border fencing will not address the complex challenges....” the statement added.</p>.<p>The FMR allows people living on both sides of the border to travel 16 km into each other's territory without a visa. Four Indian states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, share a 1,643-km border with Myanmar.</p>.<p>Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had earlier spoken in favour of the border fencing and cancellation of FMR.</p>