Aizawl, April 12, 2006: Foreseeing danger of being outnumbered by refugees, the Zoram Vengtu (guardians of Mizoram), a newly formed organisation today urged the authorities to ensure that all refugees in Mizoram are sent back to their respective original homeland.
“Proper rehabilitation and protection be given to Bru refugees who have been scattered all over Assam, Chittagong hill tracts and Mizoram. The Rs 28 crore sanctioned by the Centre for rehabilitation of Brus should be properly utilised for resettlement of the Brus in their original homeland in Tripura,” Zoram Vengtu said.
“The same should be given to thousands of refugees in Kolasib district who fled their homes following ethnic violence in Cachar district. It should ensured that these refugees are brought back to their homeland in Assam,” it stressed.
The organisation also urged that steps should be taken for expeditious resettlement of Hmar refugees who are being encamped at refugee camps in Sakawrdai and others in Mizoram.
In regards to Brus in Mizoram, the Zoram Vengtu further stated that Brus were never an indigenous people, and insisted that Brus should be deported back to their homeland in Tripura.
“The Brus, also called as Reangs, Halams and Deburman, were recognised by the British as Tiperas. Since the British understood that they did not belong to Mizoram (then Lushai Hills) they (Tiperas) were included among outsiders who were denied settlement in Mizoram under the inner line regulation of 1930,” R Thangmawia, president of the Vengtu said at the press conference. “Under the regulation act, the Tiperas were allowed to stay in Mizoram only on condition that they look after the forest, maintain village roads and settle at river banks not exceeding 15 houses, that too for only three years,” he said.
“Even with this regulation, there were a number of illegal Bru immigrants in Mizoram. According to the 1941 Census, there was 18 such illegal residents,” he added.
According to records, the Brus migrated to Mizoram following assimilation by Bengalis whose population in the Brus’ homeland had increased from 8% in 1911 to 78.5% in 1991, Thangmawia said.
“Brus originally were not homeless people, but who failed to protect their home. We should help these people get back their homeland instead of giving them a home here,” the Zoram Vengtu said.
Source: Newslink
See also:
- Environmental Clearance of Tipaimukh Dam by MoEF (October 31st, 2008)
- Chakka bandh on Sep 18 against Tipaimukh dam (September 17th, 2008)
- 1 lakh Manipur villagers hit by bamboo flowering (September 2nd, 2008)
- Heavy security to be deployed on 99 km stretch of road to Tipaimukh dam (July 29th, 2008)
- Army launches Tipaimukh vigil (April 30th, 2008)