India sealed Myanmar border amid refugee crisis

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga held a virtual meeting with Myanmar’s Foreign Minister on Sunday amid military escalation following the February coup, even as India sealed all entry points to the border with its South-East Asian neighbor. And has been closely monitoring it to prevent anyone from entering Myanmar country.

“There was a meaningful meeting (online) this morning with Xin Mar Aung, Honorable Foreign Minister, Myanmar. Our thoughts and prayers are with Myanmar at the time of these efforts, ”Mr. Zoramthanga said on Twitter. He had previously written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention so that Myanmar’s “political refugees” would be given shelter in the country for food and shelter.

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According to many officials, the quarrel between the Center and the state has created a difficult time for New Delhi and security agencies in handling the situation on the ground.

In the March 18 letter, Mr. Zoramthanga said that people living on both sides have close ties. He said, “India cannot turn its back on the humanitarian crisis we face in our backyard.” ”

The letter comes after a series of exchanges between the state and the center on the handling of refugees. Stating that the whole of Myanmar is in turmoil and “innocent helpless civilians are being persecuted” by the military regime who are considered their protectors and protectors, Mr. Zoramthanga said “Myanmar bordering Mizoram is restrained by Chin communities Those who belong to us ethnically have been in close contact with us all these years before India became independent.

Read also: Mizoram MP increases the influx of Myanmar refugees

After the February 1 coup, when the Myanmar army overthrew the democratically elected government, about 300 Myanmar nationals, including many policemen, moved to India to seek refuge.

A government official said that there is a lot of support and sympathy among the people of Mizoram on the situation in Myanmar, there are cross-border relations.

India and Myanmar have an arrangement called Free Movement Regime (FMR) that allows locals on both sides to move up to 16 kilometers to the other side and stay for 14 days. Thousands of Myanmar citizens come regularly for work and to visit relatives. In March 2020, FMR was suspended due to COVID-2019 and since then no one is being allowed. In this regard, the officials said that smuggling from across the border is increasing as the livelihood of the people has been disrupted due to the epidemic.

On 26 February, the State Government issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the Deputy Commissioners detailing how to handle the refugees. It was later repealed following instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Following the MHA’s directive, no one is being allowed to enter India from Myanmar and the Assam Rifles, which is the border security force there, is keeping a close watch, another local official said. However, the border is porous and unlike the Bangladesh border, of which more than 60% has been evacuated, the Myanmar border has been unfit and has been completely blocked as it is not a difficult terrain. Mizoram shares 510 km long border with Mizoram.

All the refugees who arrived earlier have been placed in camps along the border by local administration and security forces with no direct access.

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For central agencies and the Assam Rifles on the ground, it is a difficult situation to maintain a delicate balance in executing MHA orders and maintaining cordial relations with state agencies and locals.

In a letter to the four states bordering Myanmar on 10 March, the MHA stated that state governments had no power to grant refugee status to any foreigner and that India was bound by the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 19th Protocol. Is not a signatory.