NGOs oppose Bru repatriation;submit memorandum to CM

Aizawl, Nov 23 (UNI) A few NGOs in Mizoram today submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Zoramthanga opposing the government's move to consider the repatriation of Bru refugees staying in North Tripura camp for a decade.

Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Mizo Upa Pawl, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuhkhawm Pawl and several other NGOs in a joint statement here opposed the move, saying the Brus were not the state's actual citizens.

The statement said most of the Brus were from Asom, Tripura and Bangladesh and were trying to settle down in Mizoram.

''The move can cause demographic imbalances, jeopardise the security of the Mizos and disturb the peace of the state, '' the statement added.

Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), an underground outfit which began its activities in 1997, had been demanding a separate autonomous district council carved out from the north western parts of the state.

However, BNLF had surrendered in May 2005 after accepting a peace-accord initiated by Mr Zoramthanga.

The uncertainty of resettlement of Brus was compounded by the fact that the Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM) did not come overground with the BNLF and was still allegedly involved in various insurgent activities in the region.

Meanwhile, state officials have held discussions with the NGOs about the problem the state government was facing with Brus giving a negative report to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The state government had already identified five villages for the resettlement of about 1,700 Bru refugees in the first phase of repatriation.

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