1. Mizoram CM-to-be Lalduhoma to meet Amit Shah and Jaishankar for talks on refugees and displacement.
2. Mizoram hosts 44,000 individuals from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and internally displaced people from Manipur.
3. Refugees seek shelter in Mizoram due to challenges, including ethnic conflicts.
Aizawl, Dec 07: The Chief Minister-designate of Mizoram, Lalduhoma, has announced plans to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to address the complex issue of refugees and internally displaced people in the state. Mizoram has become a shelter for around 44,000 individuals from Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as internally displaced people from Manipur, seeking refuge from various challenges, including ethnic conflicts.
Following the victory of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) in the assembly polls, Lalduhoma, the 73-year-old ZPM leader, met with Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati at Raj Bhavan to stake his claim to form the new government.
He expressed his commitment to providing shelter to refugees and displaced people on humanitarian grounds, aiming to discuss collaboration between the central and state governments during his meetings with the Home Minister and External Affairs Minister in Delhi.
Also Read: Young Trailblazer: Baryl Vanneihsangi Makes History as Mizoram’s Youngest Woman MLA with 1,414-Vote Victory
In a press statement, Lalduhoma highlighted that discussions would encompass exploring ways to enhance relief efforts for the refugees and displaced individuals compared to the measures taken by the outgoing Mizo National Front (MNF) government. The ZPM secured a notable victory, securing 27 out of 40 assembly seats, dethroning the Zoramthanga-led MNF.
Lalduhoma, a former IPS officer with a background as the security in charge of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, expressed his intention to engage with S Jaishankar, his civil service batchmate, to discuss the country’s policy towards refugees from Myanmar. He emphasized the humanitarian nature of the issue and expressed hope that the central government would extend support to address the challenges faced by the state.
Mizoram is currently hosting more than 31,300 Myanmar nationals, including members of the Chin community with ethnic ties to Mizos, who sought refuge after a military coup in February 2021. Additionally, over 1,100 Bangladeshi nationals from the Bawm or Mizo community in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts have taken shelter since November last year due to conflicts between the Bangladesh army and an ethnic insurgent group. Furthermore, nearly 12,000 internally displaced people from Manipur have sought refuge in Mizoram since May this year, fleeing ethnic clashes.
Despite the outgoing MNF government’s plea to the Centre for financial assistance for the internally displaced people from Manipur, the assistance has yet to materialize. The state government has taken measures from its exchequer and received donations from government employees, totalling Rs 5 crore and over Rs 80 lakh to aid the internally displaced people. The Chief Minister-designate remains optimistic that collaborative efforts will address these pressing humanitarian concerns.
