Former CS seeks foreign policy review
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 09 2023: Highlighting the impacts of influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar on the social, economic and political landscape of Manipur and Mizoram, former Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore has written to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to frame appropriate foreign policies to address the issue.

The letter addressed to the External Affairs Minister pointed out that the violent crisis which erupted on May 3 has so far claimed more than 100 lives, injured more than 300, about 4000 houses have been burnt down and around 50,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

The Chin State of Myanmar borders Mizoram and Manipur with porous borders allowing free movement of people to either side.

Chin people have affinity with Kukis living in Mizoram and Manipur in terms of language and religion (Christianity) .

There has been continuous entry of illegal Chin people from Myanmar to Manipur and Mizoram over the past few years.

Their influx increased significantly after the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, the former Chief Secretary said.

Chin National Front and Chin National Army have been engaging in insurgency against the Myanmar Government for more autonomy, he said.

Consequent upon crackdown by Myanmar military against the Chin insurgents, the influx to Manipur and Mizoram increased manifold.

In the absence of a clear-cut policy of Government of India towards the immigrants who enter India illegally, the Government of Manipur is at a loss and has done little to check the influx or identify the immigrants or provide shelter to them, leaving the immigrants to take help of local population in Kuki dominated areas.

They have easily mingled and settled along with local Kuki population with probable blessing from political leaders and drug lords, the former Chief Secretary wrote to the External Affairs Minister.

There are allegations of involvement of Chin militants who are equipped with sophisticated arms in the violent conflict and some of them have been identified as Myanmarese from their dress-Lungi, which is not worn by local Kukis, he said.

Some probable reasons for the involvement of Chin militants in the violent conflict are the harm done to their interests due to eviction of new Kuki villages from reserved forests, large-scale destruction of poppy plants and arrest of drug traffickers, where they have interests, by the State Government machinery, Nabakishore informed Jaishankar.

"You mentioned in a press conference on June 8, 2023 that during the nine years of Narendra Modi Government, India has border terrorism problem from Pakistan", Nabakishore wrote to the External Affairs Minister.

"It appears that you are either ignorant of the border terrorism perpetrated by the Chins from Myanmar on the people of Manipur or ill-informed of what is happening on the border with Myanmar", reads the letter.

The violent conflict between the communities and consequent loss of lives and properties may occur again and again, if the issue of border terrorism perpetrated by the Chins from Myanmar is left unattended by the Government of India, he said.

He then urged the External Affairs Minister to take note of the grave situation and collect independent information on the impact of influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar on the social, economic and political landscape of Manipur and Mizoram, and come out with an appropriate policy response.

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