Illegal Burmese Families Forced Out of Mizoram

Aizawl, May 12 : Unconfirmed reports from southern Mizoram, about 20 Burmese families illegally staying in Mizoram were forced back into Burma.

The families forced back into Burma did not have any Indian identification papers such as a Ration card or a voters ID card.

Below is a news article from Khonumthung News

Twenty more Chin families from Saikhumphai block of Vaphai track group, Champhai district, Mizoram state of northeast India have been pushed back to Burma before the deadline of last week of May 2011 by local authorities.

Chin families not in the electoral rolls (voter’s list) were earlier driven out from their homes in Saikhumphai block before 9 April by Champhai District Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) and NGO groups – the Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizo Upa Paw (MUP), Village Council (VC), and Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP).

In the latest push back move 22 Chin families, who are on the electoral rolls were also ordered to leave their homes before 30 May, said a local from Saikhumphai.

Vaphai village NGOs and local authorities are trying to delete from the electoral rolls of Mizoram the names of the remaining 22 Chin families, staying for more than five to 10 years in the area, said a local from Vaphai.

Saikhumpai villagers requested Vaphai authorities to resettle them along with those who left their village earlier, but Vaphai authorities have rejected their pleas, said a local.

Vaphai authorities rejected pleas from 11 village elders made with a pig, costing Rs. 6000 for those driven out before 30 April said a local from Saikhumpai.

“We approached the Chairman of Vaphai village Council to resettle them in the village, but Vaphai VC rejected our appeal, because the local authorities had already made a firm decision, said a Saikhumphai village elder.

Around 32 families were staying but after 23 families were forced to leave since April by Vaphai authorities now only 10 Mizo families remain in the village.

“We brought a pig as is our culture to make the appeal and we hoped that the Vaphai authorities will accept our petition but it did not succeed,” said a local.

Saikhumphai Chin families had requested authorities for a separate village but the local authorities drove out those requesting a separate village.

Mizoram authorities also believe that arms, drugs and illegal items are being smuggled from Saikhumphai and feel local people may be involved. That is why Mizoram authorities want to throw out the villagers.