In the wake of a fresh influx of Myanmar nationals entering India through Manipur, the Assam Rifles also charged with guarding the India-Myanmar border seems stuck in a dilemma.
On March 10, 2021, the Union Home Ministry wrote to the chief secretaries of the border states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh to “take appropriate action as per law to check illegal influx from Myanmar into India.” It also reminded the states that, since India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol, they have no power to grant “refugee status to any foreigner.”
The letter termed the movement of refugees due to the political coup in Myanmar as an “illegal influx of foreigners,” thereby making its position clear on refugees from Myanmar.
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Now the Assam Rifles authorities have been asked by the state government to clarify on the facts and compelling circumstances as to why and how 718 Myanmar nationals were allowed to enter into India in Chandel district recently without proper travel documents along with strict advice to push back those Myanmar nationals immediately.
Assam Rifles did inform state authorities about the entry of these Myanmar nationals and that they are presently staying at Laijang, Bonse, New Somtal, New Laijang, Yangnomphai, Yangnomphai Saw Mill and Alvomjang. The group included 208 women.
While the Manipur government has asked its district officials and the border guarding force Assam Rifles to push back Myanmar nationals entering India illegally, Mizoram state has a humane and procedural response to Myanmar refugees who crossed over after the recent military clampdown, despite lack of official and logistics support from the Centre.
In Mizoram, the refugees are accounted for and rehabilitated in camps set up by the state government and voluntary organisations and the state is bearing the costs for the refugee camps set up across the state while Manipur adopts a different approach.
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One may consider Manipur’s approach to refugees as hostile. Yes, the civil population across the border had been bearing the brunt of military oppression from the ruling junta and one needs to look at these refugees from a humanitarian perspective.
However, it is not that simple. Manipur is at present faced with ethnic violence and there are widespread allegations of armed Myanmar illegals actively participating in the violent attacks and arson against the Meitei community.
Leave aside the entry of civilian refugees, questions have been raised as to how these lungi-clad armed militants were allowed to enter India and operate against Indian citizens.
The involvement of armed Myanmar illegals in the incessant attacks on Meitei villages in foothill areas has been a matter of concern for the valley population since the commencement of the violence and valley based CSOs had been consistently pleading with authorities to check the activities of these external elements.
Even the state chief minister had been mentioning the involvement of Myanmarese illegals armed with sophisticated weapons in the present violent attacks.
While valley-based CSOs and certain knowledgeable individuals had been consistently pointing out the ‘involvement’ of armed Myanmarese illegals in the present violence in the state, certain sections including some agencies had been all along crying foul over such ‘allegations’ and vehemently denying it.
However, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey’s recent reference to the presence of certain inimical elements who could have infiltrated from across the border to fuel the current unrest in Manipur had indeed silenced the protestations.
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