Mizo MP Vanlalvena urges home ministry to change policy on Myanmar refugees

AIZAWL: Mizo National Front MP Vanlalvena has informed the Rajya Sabha that refugees have been coming to the Indian border fleeing Myanmar, and the state government and non-government organisations have been helping them so far, with the ministry of home affairs (MHA) giving information to block their entry.

 

The MP pleaded with the MHA to allow them to enter the country while fleeing the crisis, and "sending them back would mean killing".

 

On Monday, Vanlalvena, the sole MNF MP in the Rajya Sabha, met vice president Venkaiah Naidu to discuss the issue.

 

“Due to the people's protest against the Myanmar military coup, more than 300 Myanmar refugees have entered Mizoram, and more than 1,500 refugees are Myanmar police personnel ... who favour the protesters,” he said in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.

 

Vanlalvena stated that the Mizoram government and non-government organisations were helping the refugees "without the support of the Union government."

 

The MHA has recently issued orders to the chief secretaries of four Myanmar bordering states not to allow Myanmar refugees to enter the country.

 

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Furthermore, the MHA has directed the Assam Rifles to restrict refugees entering Mizoram from Myanmar, he added.

 

The people of Mizoram, according to Vanlalvena, would "not understand" if the Indian government sends the refugees back.

 

"They're our brothers. It would be murderous to send them to Myanmar. The people of Mizoram will not allow the deportation of refugees until peace and normalcy are restored in Myanmar," he said.

 

Since India is the world's largest democracy, he believes it should help those who "work to develop democratic rights and principles".

The whole world expects the Indian people to harbour these Myanmar refugees.

 

Thus, he requested the MHA to change policy regarding the Myanmar refugees to some extent, he said.