Do not award refugee status to Myanmar intruders, orders union home mini

New Delhi: The union home ministry ordered the northeastern states of Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, as well as the Assam Rifles, to initiate necessary steps to stop refugee infiltration from Myanmar. The union home ministry also ordered that action as per law should be initiated against the intruders, and they should be handed over to Myanmar. Reports are being received that many refugees are trying to infiltrate India following the military coup in Myanmar. The security agencies are taking strong actions against the protestors in Myanmar. In this scenario, many from Myanmar are preparing to seek asylum in India. Nearly 200 Myanmar police officials have reportedly entered India with their families. These police officials are saying that they do not want to serve under the military regime. Myanmar government has requested the Mizoram government to hand over the police officials and the other Myanmar citizens who have crossed the border and entered India. Thereafter, 8 police officials who had entered India have been handed over to the Myanmar authorities.

Against this background, the union home ministry, through a letter written to the four states sharing a border with Myanmar, has warned to take the necessary measures to prevent refugee infiltration. The Minister of State for northeastern states, Krishna Mohan Uppu, confirmed that a letter to this effect has been sent to the northeastern states. The possibility of large-scale infiltration from Myanmar into India is very high. Uppu said that, therefore, these states have been ordered to remain alert and take necessary steps.

The northeastern states had said that they are willing to accommodate the Myanmar refugees if the union government permits. Therefore, the union home ministry’s letter clarifies that the states and union territories have no authority to award refugee status to infiltrators. The letter also underlines that India has not signed the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and 1967 protocol. Therefore, the centre has warned that action as per the refugee act should be taken against the illegal infiltrators.

The union home ministry has also clarified that the states should establish the identity of the infiltrators with assistance from the state security agencies and the intelligence agencies and start the action to send them back to their homeland immediately. The union home ministry has also reminded of the instructions issued to all states regarding illegal immigrants in 2017.