Mizo tribes demand for government intervention to stop attacks

Aizwal Dec 10 (ANI) : The decade old conflict between the Mizos and the Bru (Reang) tribes took violent turn in November with the burning of 500 houses belonging to Reangs.

This incident was followed by the gunning down of a Mizo youth.

Now displaced Mizo tribals are demanding that the centre to intervenes end the ethnic crisis.

Concerned about resolving the deadlock over the repatriation of 35,000 Reang refugees to Mizoram, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in New Delhi recently.

As per schedule, the repatriation of Bru tribals from Tripura to Mizoram was to happen in mid -November.

Unfortunately, the killing of a Mizo youth has blocked the entire process.

The latest round of ethnic trouble has led to around 5,000 displaced Reang tribals taking shelter in northern Tripura and southern Assam.

The Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), an orgaisation of the Bru tribal refugees, has demanded immediate intervention of the Centre to resolve the ongoing ethnic crisis in Mizoram and repatriation of the displaced Bru people.

The Mizoram Bru Displaces People's Forum president Elvis Chorky opined that now it is very clear that without the active participation of the central leadership this problem cannot be solved.

"Especially, we request the intervention of the Union Home Minister," Chorky said.

Over 35,000 Reang tribal refugees have been living in six north Tripura camps since 1997 after they fled Mizoram following ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos after the killing of a Mizo forest official.

The tribal refugees earlier, in a letter to the prime minister, demanded his urgent intervention to resolve the stalemate over their repatriation and recent ethnic troubles.

On the other hand the Bru refugees are demanding to provide security.

Refugees felt that as Mizos have burned their (Bru) houses and people were badly beaten up, so they are not interested in going back.

"I am afraid they may attack us again. If a security force like Assam Rifles takes care of our safety only then we will go back," said a refugee.

Tripura is also facing socio-economic problems due to the long stay of the tribal refugees and the recent exodus of tribals from Mizoram following the ethnic skirmishes.

Representatives of the central and Mizoram governments and tribal refugees are holding meetings to resolve the 12-year-deadlock between Reang tribes and Mizos. (ANI)