Mizoram government issues SOPs for Myanmar nationals in State

AIZAWL: ''The Mizoram government has issued a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure with regard to the people entering Mizoram from Myanmar in view of the military coup. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has already asked the people living along the borders to follow the SOP issued by the State government,'' said Mizoram's lone Lok Sabha (LS) member C. Lalrosanga Lalrosanga over phone. He added that 15 Myanmar police personnel came to Champhai district while eight policemen took shelter in Serchhip district.

Speaking in Aizawl on Friday, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said, "Our brothers and sisters in Myanmar are currently facing problems because of the military coup; and we welcome those who are forced to flee into Mizoram for their physical safety. The government is mindful that they could face hunger and so has sanctioned funds accordingly."

At least 23 Myanmar Police personnel and some civilians have crossed over into India and are seeking refuge in Mizoram, officials and villagers along the borders said on Friday.

These people from the military coup-hit Myanmar entered the two bordering Mizoram districts since Wednesday.

Serchhip district Deputy Commissioner Kumar Abhishek and his Champhai district counterpart Maria C.T. Zuali told the media separately that the district authorities have been providing food and shelter to the people who came from across the border. Both DCs added that the entire matter is under investigation, and has been communicated to the higher authority and they are awaiting further instructions.

Villagers of the border areas of Champhai and Serchhip districts told the media that more than 100 people comprising unarmed police personnel and civilians from Myanmar have crossed over to the mountainous state since March 3. According to the villagers, all the intruders belong to the Chin ethnic group, to which the Mizo community of Mizoram belongs.

Agencies quoted a senior official of the Home Department of Mizoram as saying, "We have been writing to Delhi and are awaiting a response as to how we should go ahead with the situation. As of now, we have asked Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to collect information of those arriving based on a performa we have prepared," the agencies quoted another official.

But a source in the Assam Rifles, whose personnel are deployed at the border, said that while the State government has issued SOPs, these are not in consonance with the Centre. "We have received instructions from Delhi not to let refugees in; but we have also been told not to get into confrontation with the district administration. As of now, we are playing the part of a neutral force and informing the Centre as to what exactly is happening," the agencies quoted the Assam Rifles source.

Refugees have come into at least three border districts of Mizoram — Champai, Serchhip and Siaha.

On February 10 Champai authorities issued an alert against the influx of refugees, with an armed outfit -- the Chin National Army, seeking refuge for at least 40 families.

An influential Mizoram student body -- Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) -- expressing solidarity with Mynamar's Mizo communities had organised sit-in demonstrations last month in Aizawl, protesting the recent military coup in Myanmar and the human rights violations in the neighbouring country.

The MZP also expressed solidarity with Mynamar's Mizo communities, which too have faced the brunt of the coup. Senior MZP leader Ricky Lalbiakmawia said that they would seek the intervention of the United Nations and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the military coup in Myanmar and urge them to provide help to the Mizo community in the neighbouring country.

Four north-eastern States -- Mizoram (510 km), Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km) and Nagaland (215 km) -- share 1,643 km of unfenced borders with Myanmar. (Agencies)

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