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Bru leaders sought VHP President Togadia’s intervention
By Jyotilal Chowdhury
Praveen Bhai Togadia, the international working president of Vishua Hindu Parishad (VHP), met the MBDPF (Mizoram Bru Displaced Forum) leaders recently at Ananda Bazar in Tripura North, during his visit there for the inauguration of 19th Annual Festival and Ex-Student Meet of Sadhak Ratanmani Sewa Sadan. The MBDPF leaders, who included R. Laldawngliana, Vice President, Bruno Msha, General Secretary, and member, A. Rindika, pointed out their extreme difficulties of living in camps due to inadequate relief materials distributed by Central Government through the Government of Tripura,scarcity of fire wood, drinking water problem, absence of medical facility, educational structure, job opportunities and any other avenue of sustenance and livelihood. The leaders also expressed their willingness to repatriate to Mizoram and get amicable solution of their plight of living in the camps for more than 12 years.
They further stated recently, they had submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, seeking tripartite meeting between MBDPF leaders, the Centre and the Govt. of Mizoram for smooth conduct of forthcoming repatriation process and to discuss certain problems being faced by the refugees.
| It is to be recollected that around 35'000 Bru or Reang refugees deserted their hearths and homes in Mizoram in the wake of the ethnic violence of 1997, and were forced to live in the 6 relief camps in North Tripura. |
The MBDPF leaders strongly felt that until and unless the international or national level NGOs come forward to intervene in the crisis and hammer for a solution of the problems of the displaced Brus, the Central Govt. and the State Government of Mizoram would not pay any heed to their plight. The MBDPF leaders appealed to Praveen Togadia, to extend a helping hand and that of his influential organization with world wide reach to stand by the helpless displaced Brus who “are struggling for survival.”
Togadia promised the leaders of his all possible help and cooperation for the solution of Bru problems and to take up their cause with the Union Home Minister. He said the issues raised in the memorandum, were quite relevant and justified and called for a practicable solution, considering the human aspect of it.
Togadia at the same time said, if the Union Home Ministry and the Government of Mizoram failed to arrive at an amicable solution and the stalemate over their repatriation continued, he would mobile support of all other tribal communities and their organizations across the country and hold a massive protest demonstration in the national capital of Delhi, strategy about which would be decided only after the outcome of his talks with the Centre.
In the meantime, the MBDPF leaders have received a letter from Lalbiakzama, Joint Secretary, Home Department of Mizoram, for talks in the capital of the state, Aizawl, on February 21, in order to break the logjam and resume the fourth phase of repatriation. Others invited for talks included DGP, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, SP (CID) SB of Mamit dstrict and Commandant, 4th Indian Reserve Battalion. But, the Bru leaders are skeptical about any positive outcome viewed against the backdrop of the half-hearted approach of the Mizoram Government. However, as Bruno Msha said an 8 member team has been formed to attend the meeting, but only after receiving certain clarifications asked for.
It is to be recollected that around 35’000 Bru or Reang refugees deserted their hearths and homes in Mizoram in the wake of the ethnic violence of 1997, and were forced to live in the 6 relief camps in North Tripura. It was a very hard and struggling life for them, with an uncertain future before them. After all the hurdles and series of talks involving MBDPF, the UHM and the Mizoram Government, the process of repatriation started. When the fourth phase of repatriation began, it was caught in logjam as only 7 of the 669 families could make return home.
The reasons for their unwillingness to return to their native lands were not unfounded. The repatriated refugees were faced with extreme miserable conditions. They were subjected to undue harassment, in the name of identification and in the process many of them found their names deleted from relief registers and even electoral rolls. They were denied two years free ration as promised as the ‘jhum’ season was over. Many of them found their lands forcibly occupied by others. Moreover, MBDPF, was never taken into confidence or consulted in the matter of repatriation, alleged the leaders.
A. Sawibunga, President of the Forum, said over a telephone conversation from Naisingpara camp after being in touch with those repatriated, it was conveyed that on return they were facing extreme adversity in total negation of promises of well taken care of. The state government machinery became active to undertake population identification at Kunhmun and Zomuantlang facilitation centres on the basis of 1995 electoral rolls. This arbitrary act resulted in deletion of 85% of Bru voters, he said. Apprehension now lurks in their minds, that their names might be struck off from ration cards and eventually deprived of relief materials. Once they board the waiting vehicles for them to be taken to Mizoram, the Tripura Government dismantles their houses. It was due to such fear and apprehension, that on April 26 last, no Bru refugee turned up for second move of the fourth phase of repatriation, Sawibunga added to say.
The MBDPF leaders, impressed upon Togadia to exert his influence with the UHM for allotment of land to every family taken back, free ration for two years, Rs 1.5 lakh compensation to each Bru family, formation of grouping or model villages for their safety and security, identification of displaced refugees in the camps itself, extension of the benefit of primitive group programme for their socio-economic amelioration, identification of rehabilitation centers before repatriation and permanent development project for the sustenance and better living of the Bru’s in distress. Pravin Bhai Togadia after being briefed about their charter of demands invited them for further discussion in Delhi in order to give a concrete shape to the strategy to focus the issue on national and international platform in the event of the failure of the Centre and the Mizoram Government to settle the Bru’s crisis.
