Imphal: The Manipur government issued a circular to the deputy commissioners of the border districts not to open camps to provide food and s...
Imphal: The Manipur government issued a circular to the deputy commissioners of the border districts not to open camps to provide food and shelter to refugees fleeing Myanmar after the coup but withdrew it three days later to avoid public anger.
In the advisory issued to the DCs of Chandel, Tengoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul and
Churachandpur on March 26, the Special Secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash also
asked them to stop the Aadhaar enrolment exercise.
As a result of the events taking place in Myanmar, it is reported that the
country's nationals have been trying to enter India through the border states
including Manipur, it said.
"The district administration should not open any camps to provide food and
shelter. The civil society organisations should also not be allowed to open any
camps to provide shelter/food," the circular, which came into the public
domain on Monday, said.
While advising the DCs to "politely turn away", those trying to sneak
into India, the special secretary wrote, in case of grievous injuries, medical
attention may be provided on humanitarian considerations.
With public anger mounting in Mizoram against attempts to stop the entry of
refugees from Myanmar, the officer issued another advisory on Monday, saying
the contents of the previous letter had been "misconstrued".
"It appears that the contents of the letter have been misconstrued and
interpreted differently. The state government has been taking all humanitarian
steps had recently taken all steps, including taking them to Imphal, to treat
the injured Myanmarese nationals. The state government continues to provide all
aid," it said.
"In order to avoid this misunderstanding I am directed to convey the
decision of the Government that it has decided to withdraw the letter dated
26.03.2021 mentioned above," Prakash said.
The Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga, had recently written to the Prime
Minister, Narendra Modi, urging him to provide asylum to the refugees, saying a
"human catastrophe of gigantic proportions" is happening in Myanmar
and innocent citizens are being killed by the military.
He had dubbed as "not acceptable" the Centre's order to prevent
illegal immigration from Myanmar and ensure speedy deportation of refugees.
Zoramthanga said the areas in Myanmar bordering Mizoram are inhabited by the
people from the Chin community who share ethnic ties and have had close contact
with the people of the state even before India got independence.
Over 1,000 Myanmarese have taken refuge in Mizoram since the coup, and a senior
government official said on Monday that the state had received no communication
from the Centre after the March 10 directive to stop illegal immigration from
the neighbouring country. (Agencies)
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