NEW DELHI: An adjournment motion was moved by Member of Parliament (Congress) Manish Tiwari in the Lok Sabha over the issue of Myanmar refugees seeking asylum in India. ''I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely: 'India has sealed all entry points along the border with Myanmar' amidst the ongoing military crackdown following the February coup. The Government is preventing Myanmar nationals from entering the country,'' the Congress leader said in a letter on Monday.
''The Myanmar area bordering Mizoram is inhabited by Chin communities who are ethnically our brethren; and India cannot turn a blind eye to them. India is a signatory to the 'International Covenant of Civil & Political Rights' (ICCPR) encapsulating the principle of non-refoulment and sending back refugees to Myanmar violates ICCPR & UN Convention against Torture. I hereby request the permission to raise the matter,'' he added.
The adjournment motion is an extraordinary procedure which, if admitted, leads to setting aside the normal business of the House for discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance. Earlier, the MP in a tweet denounced the Government for closing its borders with Myanmar.
Meanwhile, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on March 21, held a meeting with Myanmar's acting Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung, appointed by the government-in-exile of the 'National League for Democracy' which is presently ousted after the military took over on February 1. ''Had a fruitful meeting (online) this morning with Zin Mar Aung, Hon'ble Foreign Minister, Myanmar. Our thoughts and prayers are with Myanmar in these trying times,'' tweeted the Chief Minister. As per reports, both the leaders discussed the current political situation in Myanmar; and Zoramthanga expressed his solidarity with the people of Myanmar.
It needs to be mentioned here that the State and the Centre stands at two poles with regard to the influx of Myanmarese refugees into India. The Centre has alerted of possible influx in four north-eastern States, and directed the Assam Rifles to keep a check on the border areas to prevent illegal immigration and ensure expeditious deportation.
On the other hand, Mizoram said that India cannot turn a blind eye to the humanitarian crisis. In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM stated that the Centre's directives were ''not acceptable'' to Mizoram, as areas in Myanmar bordering Mizoram are inhabited by the Chin community with whom Mizo people have ethnic ties and have close contacts from even before India became independent. ''I therefore strongly urge you to intervene so that the political refugees from Myanmar are given asylum and provided food and shelter here in the country,'' added the CM.
Meanwhile, reacting to a report in a newspaper with the headline, 'India seals Myanmar border amid strains over refugee crisis', Manish Tiwari tweeted, ''Is this how we are supporting Democracy in Myanmar by closing our borders to those fleeing persecution by the Military Junta?...''
Mizoram shares a 510-km-long unfenced and porous international border with Myanmar. (Agencies)
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