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ACHR calls
for protection of Myanmarese refugees and development of refugee
law
Asian
Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in its comments on the replies of
the Government of India and State government of Mizoram on the forcible
repatriation of the Myanmarese refugees accused the State government
of Mizoram of xenophobia, racial discrimination and submission of
false and concocted reports to deny refoulment of Myanmarese refugees.
ACHR
in its submission to the National Human Rights Commission today
stated that although Mizoram government denies any refoulement,
there are hundreds of refugees who fled to New Delhi and sought
asylum from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to
escape from forcible refoulement. Although the repatriation of the
Myanmarese refugees has been continuing for a long time, NHRC failed
to take appropriate action until the situation went out of hand
after the rape of Mizo girl by a Mizo of Myanmarese descent.
"The
root cause of the problem is the lack of a refugee law and the government
of India has been misusing the Foreigners Act against the refugees.
The government makes no distinction between asylum seekers and ordinary
foreigners" - stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre
for Human Rights. In its submission provided testimonies of Burmese
asylum seekers who are seeking asylum in New Delhi and the applications
submitted to the UNHCR by the asylum seekers citing refoulement
by Mizoram authorities.
The
ACHR requested the NHRC to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs and
State government of Mizoram not to deport any Myanmarese refugee
without their applications/claims for "refuge" has been
considered by the National Human Rights Commission; to create a
separate unit within the National Human Rights Commission to deal
with refugee issues and cases, coordinate with the Ministry of Home
Affairs and the concerned State governments and develop a model
refugee law for consideration by the government of India; to direct
the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide assistance to the returnee
Myanmarese refugees at par with the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees; and
to direct the State government of Mizoram to take appropriate action
against organisations and individuals who threaten the Myanmarese
refugees.
Suhas Chakma
Director
For
more information please call Director of Asian Centre for Human
Rights in New Delhi, India
at +91-11-25503624 or 25620583
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