Over 40 Myanmar nationals enter Mizoram following force conscription

Fleeing force conscription by a militant group, more than 40 Myanmar nationals  from Paletwa township in Chin state, entered a border village in southernmost Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district recently, sources said. However, officials of state home department and Lawngtlai district administration said they are yet to confirm the fresh entry of refugees from the neighbouring country. The sources said that around 40 young people, including women, entered Hruitezawl village in Lawngtlai district on April 30 after the Arakan Army militant group, the largest ethnic armed organisation in the neighbouring country, was forcibly recruiting new rebels in Paletwa.

7 more young people entered the village the next day, it said. Though Paletwa is situated in Chin state, the AA militants based in Rakhine state also operate  in parts of Chin State and took over Paletwa earlier this year. According to Mizoram home department’s record as of April 27, a total of 34,282 Myanmar nationals, including 13,310 children are taking shelter in the state spreading to all the 11 districts.

According to the records, 18,344 refugees are staying outside relief camps by joining relatives or friends as well as staying in rented houses, while 15,938 people live in 147 relief camps across 7 districts. The home department has also profiled 33,085 Myanmar refugees, it said.