Exodus of Meitei from Mizoram begins
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 22 2023:
Following a diktat issued by Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (PAMRA), Mizoram asking the Meiteis to leave the state after video of two women paraded naked by a mob in Thoubal district during the ethnic clashes went viral few days back, the Meitei populace have begun to leave Mizoram.
On Friday, PAMRA condemned the viral video and asked all the Meiteis in Mizoram to leave the state "for their own safety" .
Immediately, All Mizoram Manipuri Association held a zoom meeting and discussed the situation in detail.
The meeting then came to a consensus that it would be best for the Meetei populace to leave the state before any unwanted incidents happen.
The decision was informed to minister Govindas Konthoujam, who conveyed the same to CM N Biren Singh.
The Government of Manipur then instructed the Meitei populace to get together and inform the government of the day of the departure.
Following the instructions, preparations were made for the Meitei populace to converge at Aizawl and leave Mizoram within Monday.
Around 2000 Meitei people are living in Mizoram, of which 500 have already left the state.
The remaining population will either leave for Silchar, Assam under security provided by the Mizoram government, or return to Manipur through the flights arranged by the Manipur government.
Meanwhile, The Mizoram University Manipuri community has strongly condemned the assault meted out to the two women in the viral video.
In a joint statement released by the 28 Meetei working in the varsity, it termed the incident as inhuman and something which should never happen in any conflict.
Since the conflict began, many people have died, properties damaged, thousands displaced and various human rights violated.
The community then expressed its deepest condolences and shared the grief of the bereaved families of all those who have died or were injured during the conflict.
The statement urged the central and state governments to work along with the stakeholders concerned to restore normalcy and peace in Manipur, in addition to ensuring the culprits involved in the incident are punished at the earliest and according to the law.
Young Mizo Association is also planning a protest march on July 25 against the May 4 incident.
In a statement issued in Mizo language, YMA, however, said that Meeteis in Mizoram have nothing to fear by the protest march and also urged the Manipur government to protect Mizo people in Manipur.
Meanwhile, government of Manipur is in touch with All Mizoram Manipuri Association over the ultimatum served by PAMRA.
The government also talked with Mizoram government, who apprised of the security arrangements made for protecting the Meeteis.
However, source close to the state government said that the government is ready to use charter flights to evacuate Meeteis from Mizoram if the situation demands.