A group in India’s Mizoram State called Mizo Zirlai Pawl, also known as the Mizo Students’ Association (MZP), along with the Zo Re-unification Organization (ZORO) staged a protest in the state capital Aizawl on Jan. 16 against the New Delhi’s plan to build a fence along the Myanmar border.

“The Indian government is planning to build a wall along the border that will separate [us]. MZP and ZORO cannot accept this. That is why we, as brothers, are protesting against a plan that will divide us,” said C. Lalremruata, the MZP chairperson.

Both MZP and ZORO criticized the proposed construction of a border fence between India and Myanmar, particularly along the section bordering Mizoram and Chin states, warning that it would harm the relationship between communities on both sides.

“We cannot accept anything that will divide us, because we believe that one day all Zo [Kuki-Chin] people will be reunited under a single administration,” C. Lalremruata added. “We demand that the Indian government withdraw its plan to build a border wall.”

The protesters demanded an end to the construction project. MZP and ZORO also warned that if their demands are not met, they will continue to oppose any action taken by the Indian government along the border.

New Delhi announced plans to fence the 1,201 mile (1,643 km) long India–Myanmar border after scrapping the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allowed visa free travel for residents living along the border up to 16 km on either side, in 2024.

The FMR was first established in 2018. Construction work on the new border fence has reportedly begun in India’s Manipur State.

BNI