Burmese women protest at Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, March 08, 2014:
Even as various women groups across the country and the world basked in Women's Day celebration today, about 500 refugee women from Burma today demonstrated at Jantar Mantar, drawing attention of the Government of India and the UNHCR against rape and assault on Burmese women refugees.
While many cases were unreported, it may be mentioned, the Burmese women drawn their strength to raise their voice against several physical assault against the Burmese refugees, apparently in the aftermath of several uproar by the NE communities over attacks against them in Delhi, the NCR and other metro cities.
The Burmese women demanded for separate police cells in Vikaspuri, Uttam Nagar and Dabri Mor areas where most of them are taking shelter.
The women group also appealed for better health care and employment opportunities in the city.
Sources from the Burmese community maintained that between the period 2009 to 2013 there were 81 reported cases recorded by the Burmese community mostly from the Chin State which were reported to the UNHCR and its agencies.
So far there is no report of these cases being closed or disposed of.
One woman activist today said that in the past 5 years she came to know of only a case being closed where she said that the accused was sentenced to jail for 10 years, but no compensation or rehabilitation for the victim.
In the same year more than a hundred Burmese were not paid their labour wages, who were employed at several factories, eateries, food joints and companies.
Meanwhile, in an election pitch on women's day, BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi met a group of NE women today at BJP headquarters over "Chai pe Charcha".