Agartala/Aizawl: Despite fresh initiatives by the central and Tripura governments, the repatriation to Mizoram of about 35,000 tribal refugees sheltered in Tripura for over 17 years still hangs in balance.
Refugee leaders told Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his deputy Kiren Rijiju recently that they were willing to return to their homes in Mizoram if their 10 demands, including security and rehabilitation, were met.
The Mizoram government remains ambiguous on the refugees’ demands, including free supply of food grain for two years and allotment of land to them. The demands have also run into objections from Mizos.
Tripura and Mizoram share a 109-km border.
The immigrants live in small thatched homes made of bamboo and hemp in seven transitory relief camps in Kanchanpur in northern Tripura, adjoining Mizoram. Most adult men and women sit idle through the day.
About 35,000 Reang tribals, who call themselves “Bru”, have lived in seven camps in Tripura since October 1997 after fleeing western Mizoram after the killing of a Mizo forest officer triggered ethnic troubles.
Reangs are officially categorised a primitive tribe.
The Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum submitted a six-page memorandum to the central ministers accusing the Mizoram government of discriminating against them.
“We are ready to go back to our homes in Mizoram. But before that the Mizoram and central governments must implement our demands,” its general secretary Bruno Msha told IANS.
Rajnath Singh said in Tripura that he had requested the refugees to go back to Mizoram, saying they would be provided all assistance.
“I believe they are ready to go back to their homes,” he added. “I believe the Mizoram government will extend all help and assistance to the refugees.”
When IANS reminded Rajnath Singh about the many inconclusive efforts aimed at resolving the refugee issue, the minister sounded confident: “The problem will be resolved.”
A Mizoram home department official told IANS in Aizawl that Chief Lal Thanhawla felt that those refugees who have refused to return to Mizoram despite concerted efforts should be settled in Tripura.
The refugees say they should be treated like Kashmiri pundits.
But the Mizo Students Federation argues that the Reang tribals were not refugees in the first place and so can never be compared with the Kashmiri Pundits.
“We have documentary evidence that they migrated en masse to Tripura because of their political aspirations,” said a Mizo leader, Lalhmachhuana.
Tripura Revenue and Relief Minister Badal Choudhury said: “A serious socio-economic problem has cropped up due to the long stay of the refugees in Tripura.”
“The refugees have damaged vast areas in forests in Kanchanpur causing serious environmental problems. Some refugees are involved in terrorism activities. The refugees also work for cheap wages, creating an awkward situation for local labourers,” Choudhury told IANS. (IANS)
