Mizoram Home Minister apologizes to Myanmar refugees over limited resources

Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga has issued an apology to over 33,000 Myanmar refugees who have been sheltering in the state since February 2021, acknowledging the state’s inability to meet all their needs due to limited resources. Addressing an event on Sunday night, Sapdanga expressed the deep connection between the people of Mizoram and the refugees, referring to them as brothers and sisters of the Mizos. Holding the Disaster Management portfolio, Sapdanga recounted his initial visit to the refugee camps along the Mizoram-Myanmar border and his interactions with the refugees. He shared his sorrow over the hardships faced by those who fled their homes, including children and the elderly. Political Adviser to the Chief Minister, Lalmuanpuia Punte, called for unity among all Chin tribal ethnic groups to overthrow the military junta and restore democracy in Myanmar, particularly in the Chin state.

In addition to the Myanmar refugees, over 15,000 Bangladeshi tribals from the Bawm community have sought refuge in Mizoram since November 2022. These refugees fled from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of southeast Bangladesh following an offensive by the Bangladeshi Army against the insurgent group Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA). Most refugees reside in rented accommodations or with relatives and friends, while others live in relief camps across the border state, which shares a 510-km-long unfenced border with Myanmar and a 318-km border with Bangladesh. Both the current Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government and the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government have appealed to the Centre for financial assistance to support the Myanmar, Bangladeshi, and Manipur refugees.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma discussed the Bangladeshi refugee issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday in New Delhi. Lalduhoma reportedly informed the Prime Minister that the state government is hesitant to push back the refugees, highlighting that the Bangladeshi refugees belong to the Bawm community, one of the ethnic Mizo tribes. He noted that many more tribals from CHT are also attempting to enter Mizoram.