'Mizo NGOs creating road block on repatriation', alleges Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Coordination Committee

Special Correspondent

Silchar: When the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is sincerely making all efforts to smoothen the process of repatriation of around 30,000 Bru refugees still staying in the relief camps of Kanchanpur in North Tripura, some NGOs of Mizoram are trying to sabotage it, alleges Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Coordination Committee (MBDPCC). In a press-communiqué emailed to The Sentinel, the Bru apex body stated that when the refugees in general have made up their mind to return to their native land, the activities of some Mizo NGOs have been quite disappointing and shocking.

It is to be recalled that following the four corner meeting of the MBDPCC with the Centre, governments of Mizoram and Tripura on July 3 last, it was resolved that the process for repatriation would be resumed. On August 10 last, a meeting of the monitoring committee of the Government of India held at Agartala with the representatives of Mizoram and Tripura governments along with MBDPCC, it was decided to coordinate for implementation of the July 3 agreement. But, the attitude and role of Mizoram government has come in for strong condemnation from the MBDPCC.

Communally biased organizations like Taitesena Group, Young Mizo Association and Mizo Zirlai Pawl have been allowed by the government of Mizoram to block the official vehicle of the election department at Thuampui, Zawlnuam, on August 10 when the vehicle was proceeding towards Tripura to hand over the latest electoral roll draft of 2018 to the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum leaders for necessary formalities. As Rokhuma, general secretary of the MBDPCC said as per the July 3 agreement, the update of the electoral rolls for the Brus of Mizoram residing at 7 relief camps have to be completed before the repatriation starts.

It has also been reaffirmed at the meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group. Unfortunately, the government of Mizoram is playing a double game to pre pone the repatriation which is to resume from September 14 and at the same time instigate the NGOs to create hurdles in the way of implementation of the July 3 agreement. The government of Mizoram has also been encouraging the Bru Coordination Committee, apparently patronized by the NGOs, led by Elvis Chorkhy for insisting on equal packages and even instigating them to boycott the repatriation. In the circumstances, MBDPCC has decided to organize a long march on the soil of Mizoram from Kanhmun to Zawlnuam by August 22 to draw the attention of the Central government towards the apathy of the government of Mizoram which does not want to welcome the Bru refugees.