SIPHRO

Aizawl, July 6, 2006: A three-member team from the Sakawrdai Hmar refugee camp today met the local media saying they are at their wits’ end because they do not find the atmosphere in Manipur conducive for them to go home.

Speaking to the press today, L. Thuamluaia, chairman of the Manipur Hmar Refugees Advisory Board, said it was threats that mainly forced the first families to go back home to Manipur. He said the Manipur government had sent a three-member commission comprising of the civil SDO of Parbung, Chief Medical Officer of Churachandpur and Zonal Education Officer of Churachandpur to cajole-threaten them into returning to Manipur.

“We were informed that everything had been done for our safe return and our future safety but the reports that we receive from back home is otherwise. We know for certainty that armed forces have left the area and except for occasional patrolling, no armed forces are present permanently. Our areas are also infested with buried landmines and we prefer that more be done before we are forced to go home,” Thuamluaia said.

He said the commission members also informed them the longer the remain in Mizoram, the angrier Meiteis (Manipuris) would become since Hmar fleeing the state had been a shameful incident for them.

Though the Mizoram government had reported that 47 or 48 families have returned home to Manipur, Thuamluaia said it was only 42 families that have gone back. This too very reluctantly. He said they only learned of the deadline of their return being June 30, 2006 only recently and this was part fo the reason that these families had returned to Manipur.

“We have been offered assistance of Rs 5000 in cash and four months free rations. Apart from this, we have not been given any assurance for our safety from Meitei rebels. It is because of this that we have remained in Mizoram till today and not because we prefer to remain here. At present, only 42 families comprising of 117 persons have returned to Manipur whereas 104 families comprising of 629 persons still remain in Mizoram,” he said.

He said the refugee families still taking refuge in Sakawrdai refugee camp are very desperate now since the Mizoram government had informed them they would be looked after only upto July 18, 2006. “With our safety not assured in Manipur and the Mizoram government informing us that they could look after us only till July 18, we are in a desperate situation and we have resorted to our last means by coming to Aizawl to appeal to the state authorities,” Thuamluaia said.

The three-member refugee team comprising of Thuamluaia, his vice chairman H. Thankhuma and assistant secretary Chawla intend to meet chief minister Zoramthanga and other pertinent ministers and authorities to inform them of their plight.

Hmar people living in the Parbung sub-division of Churanchandpur district fled Manipur on January 17 following atrocities from Manipur insurgents. Hmars have accused the Manipur government of being in collusion with the Meitei insurgents with a wider political motive of ridding Manipur of its hill inhabitants.

Source: Newslink