There is no denying the fact that the situation has deteriorated since February 2021 when Tadmadaw seized power in Yangon. There is an influx of Myanmarese refugees into North East India triggered by the junta's persecution of Kuki-Chin people.

Thus security concerns are being weighed up against humanitarian issues. Union home minister, Amit Shah's recent declaration marks the end of a long Indian commitment to allow a free movement between people who share family and ethnic ties. But more importantly it poses questions on India's responsibilities not only towards its citizens and the military junta but it's federalism as well.

Of course, the trafficking of guns and drugs are worrying. But sealing the 1,643 kilometres border could complicate matters in parts of North East as these area bear the scars of past and present insurgencies and ethnic strifes. Undermining people to people relations can rub the tribal groups like Kukis in Mizoram and Manipur the wrong way. For they share kinship with Myanmar's Chin community.

Mizoram's chief minister Lalduhoma like his predecessor Zoramthanga has opposed the fencing project. Civil society groups in the state have also criticised the move. The Nagaland government has refrained from commenting on the matter so far. However, its deputy chief minister Y Patton met Lalduhoma in Aizwal following which the Mizoram government stated that fencing the border would be "unacceptable for Nagas" given the significant Naga population in Myanmar.

The boundary and the proposed ending is in all likelihood to be considered "imposed" to the populace residing in the border areas between India and Myanmar for indigenous communities sharing similar ethnic roots.

Many local people are of the view that the international boundary was drawn up sans the residents consent. They have questioned the boundary as people of the same ethnicity are already divided by mountains. But the fact remains the NDA government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to the Land Border Crossing Agreement between India and Myanmar. It is part of the Look East Policy.

However, the six year old decision has been withdrawn by the same government with Prime Minister Modi and Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh citing security reasons for fencing the border. There is a sizeable Naga population in Myanmar largely in the Naga Self-Administered Zone in the Sagaing area.

It may be mentioned that Longwa village in Nagaland's Mon district is spread across the borders of both countries.

Coming down to brass tacks, if indeed Myanmar is failing India to maintain security along this "porous border”, India needs to rethink the bilateral relations. After all, the Myanmarese regime's brutal crackdown on the Opposition, dissenters and multiple ethnic communities , is amplifying the stream of refugees to India from Myanmar.

The fence, once it comes up will compound a humanitarian challenge to many people on both sides of the border. Both the government's of Nagaland and Mizoram have made it plain that significant percentage of Kuki-Zo residents who resent the fencing project.

The Union government must consult and convince the concerned states that be impact by the fence before putting it up. Internal fissures along ethnic and state lines must not be deepened to ensure national security; any stress on federalism must be avoided in national interest.

The answer lies in greater engagement. Let the borders remain porous. (IPA Service)