Bru NGO''s demand repatriation by Feb 15

Aizawl, Jan 24 (PTI) Bru NGOs in six relief camps inNorth Tripura district threatened to return to Mizoram-Tripuraborder Mamit district if the Mizoram government fails torepatriate all the Bru refugees within February 15.

A meeting of the Bru NGOs convened by the Mizoram BruDisplaced People''s Forum (MBDPF) on Saturday made thisdecision by adopting a resolution accusing the stategovernment of neglecting their problems even after all therefugees agreed to the latter''s repatriation plans.

While 1,300 families were proposed to be repatriated,the state government, without consulting the MBDPF planned torepatriate only 151 families which have been identified by theMizoram government officials, the NGOs said.

"We have to clear the jungle for jhumming this yearand also have to construct our houses," the resolution saidadding that they have to return to Mizoram not later thanFebruary 15.

The press statement issued by the NGOs also allegedthat there were many refugees who were not bona fide residentsof Mizoram amongst those who returned on their own recently.

"There were also some families who possessed tworation cards and some of the former Bru National LiberationFront (BNLF) and Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM)militants who received rehabilitation and resettlement moneyin their wives'' names even though they already had receivedrehabilitation and resettlement package after theirsurrender," the statement alleged.

They demanded that if there are people amongst therefugees who were not bona fide residents of Mizoram duringthe final wave of repatriation the state government and theMizo NGOs should not make any objections, the statementforewarned.