Aizawl April 26 (NEPS): Today was a historic day for the Brus of Mizoram with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) and the Mizoram government.

Signing the MoU today at the State Guest House here was Surjyamoni and Solomon Prophul Ushoy, president and general secretary respectively on behalf of the BNLF and chief secretary H.V. Lalringa and Home Secretary C.Ropianga on behalf of the Mizoram government.

After 13 rounds of talk, the two parties finally managed to agreement to a 10-point understanding which had as its first point the laying down of arms by the BNLF cadres and coming overground.

The Mizoram government on its part agreed to take back genuine Mizoram Brus from the Tripura refugee camps.

According to the MoU, the BNLF will be dissolved and the arms and ammunitions will be laid down in a formal ceremony at Tuipuibari, a Bru village in western Mizoram, for which a time frame had not been specified in the MoU.

However, when asked what kind of time frame the BNLF had in mind, Surjyamoni said it would happen within two months.

BNLF returnees and their families will be accommodated at a sepcial camp at Tuipuibari while the scheme to rehabilitate and resettle them is being implemented.

More than Rs 2.30 crore has been set aside for the BNLF returnees for this purpose.

The Mizoram government will grant amnesty to to those BNLF cadres having criminal cases against them inside the state and the state government would request the same to other state governments where BNLF cadres have been convicted and jailed.

The understanding also stated that the Mizoram government would take necessary steps to change 'Reang' to Bru in the Scheduled Tribal List.

The state government will also take all necessary steps to accelerate the pace of development in the western belt of the state covering all Bru settlements.

The MoU also stipulated that the scheme for resettling and rehabilitating Bru refugees would take place only after the BNLF lay down its arms.

More than Rs 26 crore has been earmarked for the repatriation and resettlement of the refugees. The understanding also stated that Mizoram government would take measures for the inclusion of eligible Bru voters in the state's electoral rolls after they are resettled inside Mizoram.

Witnesses to the signing of the MoU were several members of the Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BFLM), including its vice-president Zoramthanga.

This splinter Bru underground group, however, was not covered by the MoU and according to them, they are yet to reach an understanding with the Mizoram government. The BNLF, established in October 1996, now has a total membership of 195, 42-year old Surjyamoni said after the signing ceremony was over.

He added that ex-gratia for 17 dead members would be sought.

While expressing his gratitude for the talks to have come to a fruitful conclusion in a speech at the ceremony, Surjyamoni explained why the BNLF had come to be established saying it was because the Bru community's problems had not been addressed despite repeated pleas to the state government.

He also asked for forgiveness from the Mizo and Bru people for any hardship and trouble that the BNLF may have brought to them.

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