Mizoram CM assures aid for Myanmar and Manipur displaced amid border challenges

Shillong: Mizoram's Chief Minister, Lalduhoma, in a press conference following his return from Delhi  reaffirmed the state government's commitment to aiding refugees from Myanmar and internally displaced individuals from Manipur.

While acknowledging the Centre's inability to grant refugee status to Myanmar nationals, Lalduhoma highlighted their readiness to assist in providing relief. Notably, more than 31,000 members of the Chin community from Myanmar sought refuge in Mizoram after the military coup in February 2021. Additionally, over 9,000 internally displaced people from Manipur have found sanctuary in the state.

The Chief Minister underlined the shared ethnic ties between the Chin community from Myanmar, the ethnic Kuki-Zo community from Manipur, and the Mizos in Mizoram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Lalduhoma that the Centre would not deport Myanmar nationals sheltered in the state until normalcy is restored in their home country.

Lalduhoma expressed optimism regarding the cancellation of the proposed fencing of a segment of the India-Myanmar border by the Centre. The Union government's plan involves fencing a 300-km unfenced border stretch and terminating the Free Movement Regime, permitting border inhabitants to travel 16 km into each other's territories without a visa.