Aizawl, March 5: The Mizoram government has on Friday issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the identification of migrants and refugees from neighbouring Myanmar entering the state after atleast 8 persons including six cops have crossed the international borders to evade the brutalities post-military coup last month.
The Myanmar cops, one of whom had brought along his wife and kid, were given shelter at a community hall in Lungkawlh village of Mizoram’s Serchhip district.
They said they fled fearing the wrath of the Myanmar Military Junta — a government led by Military leaders — for non-compliance of orders against the civil disobedience movement protesters post the coup.
As Mizoram, that shares ethnic ancestry with the Chin community of Myanmar had soon after the coup in February 1, extended help to the people of the country.
According to the SOP for the districts along the 404-km-long porous international border — Champhai, Hnahthial, Siaha and Lawngtla — have been asked to increase vigil along the border areas and register everyone entering.
“Identity details of all which would come in will be taken and forwarded to Union Home Affairs. The people entering have also been provided food, water and other basic amenities,” a source in the state Home department said.
Serchhip Deputy Commissioner Kumar Abhishek told news agency PTI that five people, who include members of a family, crossed the international border and entered the district on Thursday, while three others did so on March 3.
The Champhai district administration had issued an order on March 1 and asked police and village councils to follow the SOP issued by the state government.
Mizoram MP C Lalrosanga told Aajtak/India Today TV that many people from Mizoram are also living in Myanmar and that during this crisis, the people of Mizoram are helping those who want to take shelter in Mizoram.
“The Mizoram chief minister [Zoramthanga] has already asked villagers along the border to follow the SOP issued by the state government,” C Lalrosanga said
Thousands have been egularly flooding the streets of cities across Myanmar protesting since the military seized power on February 1 and ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to a report by Christine Schraner Burgener, United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar, at least 56 persons, mostly youths have died in police actions of brutality that included shooting live rounds on peaceful protesters besides shooting rubber pallets and tear gas. The report also mentions the death toll may have been more as deaths jn remote locations in the country may have not been counted in.
According to Myanmar’s Irrawaddy, a leading media house, several police officials and other officials have joined the civil disobedience movement and joined the protest against the junta.
