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Burmese asked to leave ward in Mizoram |
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by Zalat May
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Friday, 03 October 2008 15:37 |
Aizawl – An influential youth organization in Thanhril Ward, Aizawl, Mizoram state, northeast India said today that it would continue to implement its decision to expel all illegal alien Burmese nationals living in their ward.
A week after a scuffle broke out between local youths and four Burmese nationals on September 7, local youths, women and elders decided to expel all Burmese nationals living in their ward. They set the deadline for October 4. The 'Young Mizo Association' (YMA) from Thanhril ward, west of capital Aizawl said that they would implement their decision.
"We must do what we have decided though we feel sorry for them. But we have to do this for the sake of our society. We will watch whether they leave our ward or not," Mr. Vanlalngeta, President of Thanhril Ward YMA, said.
A scuffle broke out on September 7 between local youths and four Burmese nationals when they passed lewd remarks at a local woman while she was bathing at a well. Following which, the YMA, Village Council (VC), Mizo Women's Organization (MHIP) and Mizo Elders Organization (MUP) decided not to allow the Burmese nationals to stay in their ward.
"Some Burmese nationals are violating the law by moon shining. Liquor is banned in the State. The four had liquor and started creating problems. I have frequently called them and advised them to behave themselves. They used to create a lot of problems. Though there are many law abiding people in our ward, there are also a lot of rogues," Mr. Vanlalngeta said.
Though the four Burmese nationals have been taken away by the police, their whereabouts are not yet known. About 150 Burmese nationals are living in Thanhril and working at plantations as watchmen and labourers in quarries.
"We cannot say what will happen next. One of the four Burmese nationals had his rib bone broken after being beaten up by locals. They had had similar problems recently after stabbing a local person in an inebriated state. After this incident, the situation worsened," U Ro Kung, a plantation watchman from Burma, said.
"There is no development so far. We shall know what will happen when the local authorities implement their decision. Some have already left this ward," he added.
The local authorities have not yet announced what action they will take against those who fail to comply with their order, but they only said they would not take their responsibility.
The Mizoram based Human Rights and Law Network (HRLN) In-charge Mr. Lalremruata said, "They should be satisfied with punishing those who committed immoral acts rather than punishing all Burmese nationals by expelling all of them. This is violation of human rights".
"Most of the Burmese nationals living in Mizoram State are economic migrants. They migrated here after suffering political instability and persecution. These problems are a usual phenomenon in their lives here. But the Mizoram government does not do anything for them. The government should establish refugee camps and provide shelters and food to them in association with the Central Government. We condemn the governments for not doing these things till now," he added.
Similarly in 2003, Burmese nationals were expelled from the state after a Burmese raped a local woman.
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