Manipur Government Orders Bar on Entry of Myanmarese

IMPHAL/AIZAWL:

Myanmarese Entry Ban in Manipur: The Manipur government has asked the district administrations bordering Myanmar not to entertain people from across the border to enter into the Indian territory, officials said on Monday.

The Manipur government directives issued to the five Deputy Commissioners of the bordering districts of Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul and Churachandpur, however, said: "In case of grievous injuries, medical attention may be provided on humanitarian considerations."

The letter, written by Manipur government's Special Secretary (Home) H. Gyan Prakash to the Deputy Commissioners, said that as a fall-out of the events taking place in Myanmar, it is reported that the country's nationals have been trying to enter India through the border States, including Manipur.

Prakash asked the five DCs not to open any camps to provide food and shelter, the Civil Society Organisations also should not be allowed to open any camps to provide shelter & food, people trying to enter or seek refuge should be politely turned away and Aadhaar enrolment should be stopped immediately and Aadhaar enrolment kits should be taken into safe custody.

The Manipur Home Department has also sought a "report on action taken" by the district administrations concerned by Tuesday.

According to officials, on Friday, some Myanmarese, including women and children, tried to enter Manipur through the Moreh-Tamu border but the security forces did not allow them to enter on the Indian side.

Manipur media reported that three injured Myanmar nationals with bullet wounds last week were allowed to enter Manipur and they have been admitted at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal. Two of them are in critical conditions.

Zoramthanga's March 18 letter to Modi sought his intervention so that the refugees from Myanmar are given asylum, food and shelter in India.

Referring to Union Home Ministry's advisories to the Chief Secretaries of the four north-eastern States bordering Myanmar and also to the Assam Rifles and Border Security Forces for taking action to prevent illegal influx from Myanmar into India, Zoramthanga said, "This is not acceptable to Mizoram."

"I understand that there are certain foreign policy issues where India needs to proceed cautiously. However, we cannot ignore this humanitarian crisis," the Chief Minister said in his letter.

Zoramthanga said in his letter that India as the largest democracy in the world and Myanmar's immediate neighbour needs to do more and open up more in this matter.

Amid the government tightening the security along the India-Myanmar border to prevent influx from across the border, Zoramthanga recently held a virtual meeting with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung.

Mizoram government delegations comprising State's Member of Parliament and senior leader of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) had already met separately with Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and others in Delhi and persuade them to impress upon the government not to forcefully push back the Myanmar nationals sheltered in Mizoram.

The MHA reiterated that the State governments and UT administrations have no power to grant "refugee" status to any foreigner and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. The four north-eastern States share a 1,643 km unfenced border with Myanmar. (IANS)

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