Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agency
New Delhi, May 03 2009:
In what can be a first step to end the `premium' on militancy in the north-east, the Centre has decided to provide the same compensation to the civilian Reang tribesmen as the armed insurgents for their rehabilitation in Mizoram.
The new compensation policy will be applicable to nearly 5,000 tribal families who have been taking refuge in neighbouring Tripura since 1997 in the wake of violent clashes between ethnic Mizos and Reang tribesmen.
The armed Reang tribesmen had then formed the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF).
Reversing its 2005 policy under which the armed militants used to get Rs 80,000 each as compared to Rs 30,000 each to the remaining tribesmen, the Union home ministry recently decided to provide everyone the same amount (Rs 80,000)."The decision has been taken in view of the demand by unarmed Reang tribesmen.
It was also felt that the policy had only encouraged poor tribals to pick up arms and join the BNLF," said an official.
Officials in the ministry believe that the step of equal compensation to all will not only help in disarming the BNLF militants but also in bringing other insurgents into the mainstream in militant-infested states like Nagaland, Manipur and Assam in due course.
The compensation to the tribesmen will be given by the Centre.
It will be disbursed by the Mizoram government which has given its nod to the rehabilitation of all the 5,000 Reang families who have taken shelter in Kanchanpur sub-division of Tripura for over 12 years.
The BNLF is an armed outfit of the Reangs and is currently engaged in negotiations with the Mizoram government.
It was formed in 1996 following violent clashes between ethnic Mizos and Reang tribesmen in three districts -- Lunglei, Mamit and Kolasib -- of Mizoram.
The outfit, which has nearly 100 armed cadres, has been demanding a separate Reang homeland in Mizoram.
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