I.
Overview
Ruled by the Mizo National
Front, Mizoram’s Chief Minister Zoramthanga
plays the role of a peace emissary with various
armed opposition groups in the North East.
Peace, however, has remained elusive in Mizoram.
Twelve rounds of talks between the State government
and Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) have
failed to resolve the Bru imbroglio. Over 35,000 Reangs also
known as the Brus who have taken shelter in
Tripura since 1997 continued to languish in
the relief camps.
The Myanmarese refugees
who faced large-scale refoulement in 2003
constantly live under fear. The order of the
National Human Rights Commission of 25 October
2004 pertaining to the complaint of the Asian
Centre for Human Rights against the refoulement
of the Myanmarese refugees has failed to stop
the refoulement.
Non-state organisations
especially the Young Mizo Association, Mizo
Zirlai Pawl and Mizo Students Union have been
instrumental for the refoulement of the Myannmarese
refugees. These non-State organisations continued
to take law into their hands with regard to
the “outsiders” - those who have allegedly
entered Mizoram without valid Inner Line Permits
(ILP) or continued to live after the expiry
of the ILP.
Ethnic
minorities continue to be discriminated and
demand for Union Territory (UT) by the Lai,
Mara and Chakma UT Demand Committee surfaced.
On 19 March 2004, the ruling
MNF members turned down a private member bill
on Right to Information and Transparency in
Public Procurement Bill.
Though Mizoram government
has made significant progress for codification
of customary laws, women continued to suffer
from traditional justice system. There has
been increase of trafficking of women.
