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The Hindu
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
How is Mizoram handling the refugee crisis?
The story so far: Mizoram has been grappling with a refugee crisis since the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar. After months of lull beyond the State's borders, some 4,000 refugees crossed over from Myanmar in the first week of July following a fratricidal battle between two rival armed groups. Mizoram is now caught between pushing back the refugees who are ethnically related to the State's dominant Mizos and letting them stay despite limited resources and a tepid response from the Centre. What triggered the fresh inflow of people? Within a week from July 3, some 4,000 from Myanmar's Chin State crossed into Mizoram's Champhai district. This was after a fierce gunfight between two anti-junta armed groups, the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-H). The two groups are part of the People's Defence Force aligned with the pro-democracy National Unity Government of Myanmar, which has seized control of large swathes of the Chin State from the junta over the last few months. They are said to have turned against each other to control areas in the region deemed strategic for trade with India. Indian intelligence officials said the CNDF prevailed over the CDF-H and captured its camps. While the sounds of gunshots have ceased across the Tiau river, which marks a segment of the 510-km border between the two countries, the refugees have not mustered the courage to return to Khawmawi, the village facing Mizoram's Zokhawthar. Champhai district authorities recorded 3,980 Myanmar nationals in Zokhawthar, a major border trade village, and Saikhumphai on July 6. When did Mizoram's refugee crisis begin? Present-day Mizoram has been used to Myanmar nationals moving in and out of the State even before the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between the two countries came into existence in 1968, allowing residents along their 1,643-km-long border to travel up to 40 km inside. The limit was reduced to 16 km from the border in 2004, and additional regulations were enforced in 2016. The Centre announced the suspension of the FMR in February 2024, but there has been no official notification or bilateral agreement in this regard, apart from the Ministry of Home Affairs bringing in a fresh protocol in December 2024 to limit the free movement to 10 km. The regulations had little impact on the ground until the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar drove thousands into Mizoram. The State's government, civil society groups, and villagers provided food, shelter, and security to the refugees on humanitarian grounds, although the Ministry of Home Affairs asked the northeastern States bordering Myanmar not to let the refugees in. The refugee crisis deepened when some 2,000 Bawm people sought refuge after fleeing persecution in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts in 2022, and thousands of Kuki-Zo people displaced by the ethnic clash in Manipur crossed over. Mizoram houses more than 40,000 shelter-seekers from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Manipur. How is the State dealing with the situation? The dominant Mizo community of Mizoram shares ethnic and familial ties with the Chins of Myanmar, the Bawms of Bangladesh, and the Kuki-Zos of Manipur. All belong to the greater Zo ethnic group. In 2024, Chief Minister Lalduhoma told the Centre that ethnic affiliations and humanitarian reasons prevent his government from pushing the refugees back to where they came from. Influential organisations such as the Young Mizo Association (YMA), church bodies, and resourceful individuals have been contributing in cash and kind to take care of the basic needs of the refugees, Myanmar government officials and politicians among them. Initially reluctant, the Centre provided ₹8 crore as assistance to provide relief for the refugees. However, some villagers began to feel the pressure of handling waves of refugees. In March, the Farkawn village council in Champhai district issued an order asking all Myanmar refugees to stop trading by March 31 and desist from moving out of their designated camps. Civil society groups issued similar diktats in Melthum, a village in Aizawl district, and Lawngtlai town later. In a departure from the hospitality extended since 2021, the refugees were threatened with eviction if they did not comply with the order. Almost simultaneously, Aizawl-based activist V.L. Thlamuanpuia wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, underlining the churning in the State over the refugee issue. He stated that the uncontrolled movement of Myanmar refugees was threatening national security, changing the demography, and draining local resources. How is the government responding? India is neither a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention nor does it have a specific national law on refugees, and it usually deals with them under laws related to foreigners. The country, however, has a history of hosting refugees from neighbouring countries and often works with the United Nations to determine refugee status. New Delhi has been talking tough on the refugee problem along the India-Myanmar border. Of late, the Mizoram government has been showing signs of feeling the pressure of influx from the civil war-torn Myanmar. In March, the Chief Minister said the FMR was one of the factors responsible for a rise in smuggling activities in the State. A month later, he said some refugees were taking advantage of the crisis in Myanmar to repeatedly cross the border by violating Indian laws. His government has also prodded the Centre to obtain presidential assent for the Mizoram (Maintenance of Household Registers) Bill, that seeks to identify foreigners in the State.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Chin militia conflict sparks mass exodus into Mizoram
1 2 3 4 5 6 Aizawl: Over 4,400 Chin refugees have crossed into Mizoram's Champhai district since July 2, following intensified armed conflict between Chin militia groups in Myanmar's Chin state, police officials said. Champhai's Zokhawthar village alone has sheltered 3,684 refugees from Khawmawi and Rihkhawdar, while 744 refugees from Leilet, Singai, Selawn, and Satawm villages have taken refuge in Saikhumphai, Vaphai, and Farkawn villages under the East Tuipui Assembly constituency. Village leaders in Vaphai village estimate the actual number of refugees could exceed 800, citing continued gunbattles between the Chin National Army (CNA) and Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) since Sunday. Despite the CNA having torched CNDF's Camp Rihli near Leilet, fighting continued through Tuesday evening. Locals report reinforcements for both sides — CNDF from Khawmawi and CNA from Camp Victoria, the military headquarters of the Chin National Front (CNF), opposite Farkawn. "We dare not enter our farmland near the Tiau river as bullets continue flying across the border," said Lawma, head of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) in Saikhumphai. YMA volunteers have also suspended search efforts for four CNDF cadres who drowned in the swollen river while attempting to flee. Meanwhile, the body of a wood carpenter who drowned near Zokhawthar during crossfire between CNDF and Chinland Defence Force (CDF)-Hualngoram on Saturday remains missing despite local efforts. Gunbattles between CNDF and CDF-Hualngoram erupted on July 2 and ended Saturday evening with CNDF capturing all eight CDF-Hualngoram camps. Two CDF-Hualngoram cadres were killed, five injured, while two CNDF fighters sustained injuries. The wounded were moved to Zokhawthar for treatment, with one referred to Champhai district hospital.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Security tightened along Indo-Myanmar border amid escalating clashes across border
Aizawl (Mizoram) [India], July 8 (ANI): Following intense clashes between the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-H) and the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) inside Myanmar, the Mizoram Police and Assam Rifles have been deployed with heightened alertness along the Indo-Myanmar border to prevent any breach, according to Mizoram Home Minister Pu K Sapdanga. The violent conflict between the two Chin armed groups began on the night of July 5 in Khawmawi, the last village on the Myanmar side of the border. The fighting has since intensified, forcing hundreds of civilians from Khawmawi and surrounding areas to flee into Mizoram through the Zokhawthar border. So far, nearly 3,000 refugees have reportedly taken shelter in Zokhawthar. The Mizoram government is closely monitoring the situation. The Home Minister stated that both the Police and Assam Rifles personnel are continuously patrolling the border to maintain security. Arrangements are being made by the Young Mizo Association (YMA) to provide temporary shelter for the refugees, and the Champhai District Deputy Commissioner has already been instructed to initiate necessary relief measures. Although the Government of India requires all entrants from Myanmar to register and provide valid identification, the Home Minister expressed concern that many of the recent arrivals are fleeing armed conflict and may not be in a position to comply with such protocols. He noted that similar incidents have occurred in the past, including instances where armed Myanmar soldiers crossed into Indian territory, but this recent influx through Zokhawthar is particularly concerning. CDF-Hualngoram and CNDF are both ethnic Chin armed groups under the broader Zohnathlak community. The Home Minister voiced concern over the presence of such armed groups with unclear alliances near Mizoram's border. He mentioned that, in the past, those who entered through Zokhawthar would spread out to other parts of the state, but now they are being advised not to move beyond Zokhawthar. He added that local volunteers, student unions, and major civil society organisations, including the YMA, are actively supporting the displaced. Several Mizoram MLAs have also stepped in to help coordinate relief efforts. Meanwhile, the state government continues to call for peace and encourages meaningful dialogue between the warring groups to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of civilians. (ANI)
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Security tightened along Indo-Myanmar border amid escalating clashes
Following intense clashes between the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-H) and the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) inside Myanmar, the Mizoram Police and Assam Rifles have been deployed with heightened alertness along the Indo-Myanmar border to prevent any breach, according to Mizoram Home Minister Pu K Sapdanga. The violent conflict between the two Chin armed groups began on the night of July 5 in Khawmawi, the last village on the Myanmar side of the border. The fighting has since intensified, forcing hundreds of civilians from Khawmawi and surrounding areas to flee into Mizoram through the Zokhawthar border. So far, nearly 3,000 refugees have reportedly taken shelter in Zokhawthar. The Mizoram government is closely monitoring the situation. The Home Minister stated that both the Police and Assam Rifles personnel are continuously patrolling the border to maintain security. Arrangements are being made by the Young Mizo Association (YMA) to provide temporary shelter for the refugees, and the Champhai District Deputy Commissioner has already been instructed to initiate necessary relief measures. Although the Government of India requires all entrants from Myanmar to register and provide valid identification, the Home Minister expressed concern that many of the recent arrivals are fleeing armed conflict and may not be in a position to comply with such protocols. He noted that similar incidents have occurred in the past, including instances where armed Myanmar soldiers crossed into Indian territory, but this recent influx through Zokhawthar is particularly concerning. CDF-Hualngoram and CNDF are both ethnic Chin armed groups under the broader Zohnathlak community. The Home Minister voiced concern over the presence of such armed groups with unclear alliances near Mizoram's border. He mentioned that, in the past, those who entered through Zokhawthar would spread out to other parts of the state, but now they are being advised not to move beyond Zokhawthar. He added that local volunteers, student unions, and major civil society organisations, including the YMA, are actively supporting the displaced. Several Mizoram MLAs have also stepped in to help coordinate relief efforts. Meanwhile, the state government continues to call for peace and encourages meaningful dialogue between the warring groups to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of civilians.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Over 6,000 Myanmar nationals take refuge in Mizoram amid escalating Chin rebel clashes
More than 6,000 refugees from Myanmar have fled to Mizoram following fresh clashes between Chin pro-democracy groups, with civil society organisations now stepping in to mediate peace, state authorities said. People take out a rally in Agartala seeking deportation of illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. (ANI) The fresh influx began after a June 5 shootout in Zokhawthar between two warring Chin factions — the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force (CDF). The violence continued on Monday when the Chin National Army retaliated with an assault on a CNDF stronghold at Rihli village, located just across the border from Mizoram's Saikhumphai village. 'Over 4,000 adult refugees have been registered by police in Zokhawthar in the past three days,' said Lalrawnkima, village council secretary of Zokhawthar. 'Since only those above 18 are registered, the total number with children could be well over 5,500. Every household here is hosting between 25 to 30 people, while others are being accommodated in community and church halls.' In Saikhumphai, over 700 more Myanmarese nationals have reportedly sought shelter following the attack at Rihli, according to a civil society leader from nearby Vaphai village. Mizoram home minister K Sapdanga stated that the state is committed to aiding those displaced by the conflict. 'The Mizoram government will do everything within its capacity to provide relief — not just because they are our ethnic kin, but out of sheer humanitarian responsibility,' Sapdanga said. He added that Lalmuanpuia Punte, political adviser to the chief minister, along with the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) and various student bodies, are actively working to broker a ceasefire between the two factions. The CNDF and CDF — comprising fighters from the Zo ethnic community — are said to be embroiled in a power struggle over control of Khawmawi, a strategic border trade town between Mizoram and Myanmar. On June 5, the CNDF reportedly captured eight camps from the CDF, forcing them out of Khawmawi after intense fighting.
