Bru refugee body renews demands

Agartala: Before the dust get settled, the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) on Saturday declared repatriation of refugees to their homeland- Mizoram  would not possible unless three basic demands are not fulfilled.
After formation of new government, the Mizoram government has initiated to resume repatriation of Bru refugees sheltered in six relief camps in North Tripura’s Kanchanpur subdivision.
“We heard that the Mizoram government is on the move to resume repatriation of Reang refugees without considering out basic demands. We are ready to resettle in Mizorom but provided the government takes steps to address our basic needs or requirement”, said  Saibunga, president of MBDPF over telephone from Gachirampara refugee camps in Kanchapur subdivision today.
The basic demands- financial assistance to each family should be enhanced from Rs. 90,000 to Rs. 1.50 lakh, free ration for two years and allotment of land under Forest Dwellers’ Right Act.
Asserting that repatriation of Bru refugee is not only solution to the problem, he said the Mizoram government must pay heed on the ‘social demand’ of the Bru people. “Return of displaced Bru people could take place anytime after addressing genuine grievances of Bru people”, he pointed out.
Ethnic clashes flared up in Mizoram’s Mamit district way back in 1997 forcing the Bru people to take shelter in Kanchapur subdivision. Since then lot of dialogues had been taken place but the problem remains at it was earlier.
Currently 32,000 Reang refugees of 5000 families are being lodged in six relief camps in Kanchanpur subdivision. The Central government has been providing free ration and our requirement for the internally displaced people.