Deportation of Myanmar Refugees 'not acceptable to Mizoram', says CM Zoramthanga

AIZAWL: Amid the influx of Myanmar refugees into the Indian border, following the military coup in the nation has prompted the Indian Government to step up measures to stop the influx. However, citing humanitarian grounds in a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga said that, "the deportation processes is not acceptable to Mizoram".

This comes after the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA on March 10 has written to the Chief Secretaries of the four Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland to take appropriate action as per law to check influx of people from Myanmar.

The MHA also directed the Director General of Assam Rifles over the illegal influx of refugees from Myanmar. The ministry directed them not to allow refugees from Myanmar and take appropriate action as per law.

The MHA also pointed that state governments have no powers to grant "refugee status to any foreigner" and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

While emphasizing on the shared similarities between Myanmar and Mizoram, the CM stated that the Myanmar areas bordering Mizoram are inhabited by Chin communities who are ethnically Mizo brethren with whom they have a close contact even before India attained its Independence. "Therefore, Mizoram cannot just remain indifferent to their sufferings today. India cannot turn a blind eye to this humanitarian crisis unfolding right infront of us in our own backyard," the CM said.

The CM further citing about the advisory issued by the MHA stated, "to prevent illegal influx from Myanmar into India in the current internal situation there and initiate the deportation processes expeditiously and without delay, is not acceptable to Mizoram."

Zoramthanga further stated that even though the state government is aware of the foreign policies of the country but on humanitarian ground the crisis that has emerged cannot be ignored.

Giving refence to the recent meetings regarding the crisis in Myanmar, between the Mizoram Lok Sabha MP Lalrosanga and External Affairs Minister on March 16 and between Rajya Sabha MP Vanlalvena and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on March 15, the CM has sought the Centre's intervention in this matter. "I strongly urge you to intervene so that the political refugees from Myanmar are given asylum and provided food and shelter here in the country," the CM mentioned in his letter to the PM.

Following the military takeover in Myanmar after the coup which has detained its elected political leaders, a huge number of refugees has fled to India in Mizoram which shares a 510 kms long border with the nation fearing further military crackdown.

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