Mizoram CM Zoramthanga seeks UN action to contain drug trafficking from Myanmar

AIZAWL: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has urged the UN to take proactive steps to curb the illegal drug trafficking and smuggling of various contraband goods from Myanmar.

The Chief Minister said that without any control and prohibition of the Myanmar authorities, rampant drug trading and poppy cultivation have been going on in the neighbouring country and they are smuggled to Mizoram, Manipur and other northeastern states.

Apart from the Golden Triangle (which includes Myanmar, Laos and Thailand), militant outfits in Myanmar are involved in poppy cultivation, he said.

"We are facing the big challenge of drug trafficking. Mizoram police, paramilitary forces together with Churches, NGOs and local people have joined in the war against drugs," Zoramthanga said during an interview with IANS.

"We need the help of the Indian government and the UN to effectively tackle the illicit drug trades."

The 78-year-old veteran politician said: "Considering the humanitarian aspects, we are providing relief and shelter to over 30,000 Myanmarese and over 300 tribals from Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh".

Over 30,500 Myanmar nationals sheltered in the northeastern state after the military seized power in the country through a coup in February last year while around 310 Kuki-Chin tribals, following troubles, fled from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeast Bangladesh and took shelter in Mizoram since November 20.

Zoramthanga, who had written several letters and spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah urging them to provide relief, aid and asylum to the Myanmar nationals as the state government was facing a financial crisis to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and related problems, said that despite being a small state, Mizoram is providing relief and shelter to Myanmar and Bangladeshi nationals without any assistance from the Central government.

"The Central government has been saying that as India is not a signatory of the UN Refugee Convention, that's why they are unable to provide direct help in this regard. But taking care of a large number of refugees is a big burden from the state," he said. (IANS)

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