Aizawl, Sept 16: Mizoram chief Minister Zoramthanga has once again urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide humanitarian assistance to Myanmar nationals, who have fled their country after a military coup resulting clash between the Army and the pro-democratic forces in the neighbouring nation.
At least 11,500 Myanmar nationals have taken refuge in 11 districts of Mizoram, whose six districts share unfenced borders with the neighbouring country, since the military coup there on February 1, 2021.
Mizoram’s Champhai district shares border with Myanmar’s Chin state. People from Myanmar’s Chin community and the Mizos belong to the ‘Zo’ ethnic group and they share the same ancestry.
Mizoram’s Lok Sabha member C. Lalrosanga met Union Home Secretary (Border Management), Sanjeeva Kumar and Additional Home Secretary (North-East), Piyush Goyal in Delhi on Wednesday and requested them to provide necessary assistance including money to the Myanmar nationals, who are taking shelter in the bordering state.
Mizoram planning board Vice-Chairman, H. Rammawi said that the Chief Minister on Wednesday has sent a reminder letter to the Prime Minister over the predicament of the Myanmar nationals, and to provide all humanitarian help to the men, women and children taking shelter in the state since March.
Mizoram’s pleadings to Centre to help Myanmar refugees
Rammawi, who is closely dealing with Myanmar refugee affairs, said that besides the Chief Minister’s letters to the Prime Minister, high level delegations led by state MPs since March have met the Vice-President and other central ministers and officials seeking asylum and humanitarian aid for the Myanmar nationals.
“The central government has yet to respond positively, and ignored the repeated requests and even remains silent on the issue for almost seven months now,” he said.
Rammawi said the Chief Minister besides writing letters, has also had talked to Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over phone on a number of occasions requesting them to extend humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar refugees.
He said that he has been in constant liaison with the External Affairs and Home Ministry and the people of Mizoram are deeply disappointed over the Centre’s silence and apathetic attitude towards the unprecedented sufferings of the hapless and distressed people from Myanmar, who fled their country for their survival.
