A group of Burmese women refugees in India has called on the Indian Government to reverse changes it has made to the way it issues refugees with residential permits, long-term visas and exit permits.
The requests were made in a letter sent by the Burmese Refugee Women Delhi organisation to the Indian Minister for External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on 10 January 2023.
The Burmese Refugee Women Delhi was formed in India and has been working with communities to alleviate the suffering of the refugee community.
The letter thanked India for the way it has treated Myanmar refugees.
It said: “We are aware that India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention 1951, but despite this India has welcomed refugees. We are grateful that we have been able to stay in your country and take refuge; it has meant that we are safe from the brutalities being committed by the military junta that has taken over our country once again forcing us to leave our homes, families and our country.”
But then, the letter goes on to talk about new problems the refugees in India face which the women say “has made it increasingly difficult for us to survive.”
Previously, India issued Burmese refugees a residential permit or a long-term visa on the basis of their UNHCR card.
It allowed the refugees to get an Aadhaar number, a 12-digit unique identifying number issued to Indian residents and foreigners who have been in India for over 182 days. It is considered proof of residence in India, but not citizenship. Without an Aadhaar number refugees cannot open bank accounts, apply for jobs, get vehicle licenses or the necessary identity cards.
According to the letter the Indian government has also stopped issuing exit permits to refugees, even when they get permission to settle in a third country. This has caused an especially large problem for those wanting to leave for a third country that has accepted them because it means they cannot leave India to move to their new homes.
The Burmese Refugee Women Delhi also attached the names of 38 Burmese refugees in India who cannot leave the country, despite being offered refuge in Australia, Canada and USA, because they do not have an exit permit.
