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Burmese migrants
in Mizoram worry about threat of deportation
By Toe Lay
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
22 July 2003
Due to a case of rape case committed by a Burmese immigrant,
Burmese migrants living in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram State
in North East India, are concerned that they might be deported
to Burma. A Burmese national raped a nine-year old Mizo student
at a knifepoint in his father's hotel room on 17 July.
Newspapers, radio stations, and television channels in Aizawl
have highlighted a mass demonstration organized by the Mizo
Women League (Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawn Pawl) at which protesters
called for the expulsion of the Burmese immigrants and for capital
punishment for the rapist. Holding placards marched along the
capital regarding ax
After Salai Vanlalsanga, 33, son of Pu Lalkunga from Tahan,
Kalay Township, Sagaing Division, confessed to having committed
the rape to the minor girl, his father's 'Vancy Hotel' at Chanmari
Veng was destroyed by an angry Mizo mob. The hotel was infamous
for prostitution in the area. "On the night of the demolition,
we also saw two boxes of prohibited country liquor in the hotel,"
said a local Mizo of Chanmari Veng.
Mizo residents also attempted to destroy 'Zoden Hotel' at Zarkawt
Veng, owned by the accused's sister, Pi Lalsangliani, but the
local authorities and police controlled the situation in time.
News of the rape having spread throughout the state, local Mizos
attempted to demolish another hotel owned by relatives of the
accused at Champhai, near the Indo-Burma border.
The next day, Mizo police sent the accused directly to the Aizawl
Central Prison due to concern for his security.
Chamari Veng's leaders and members of the Young Mizo Association
(YMA) directed that all Burmese migrants living in the Veng
(Quarter) were to leave the locality by 4 am on 23 July, announcing
that after the passing of this deadline their security could
not be guaranteed.
According to many of today's Aizawl newspapers, 80 out of 400
Mizoram residents are Burmese migrants, with the percentage
increasing yearly and many of the migrants involved in crime.
The papers argue that the Mizoram government should take preventive
measures against these migrants.
Burmese-born Pu Sanggi is a prominent person in Aizawl, received
Indian citizenship several years ago, owns a big hotel in central
Aizawl, and sends orphans to schools in central India. He was
accused of trafficking people in a television interview.
"Many Quarters in Aizawl demanded that all Burmese migrants
who have
come to the state after 1953 should immediately inform the Quarter's
Council and it could be faced the insecurity of the absentees.
So innocent Burmese people are worried about their security
and about being deported to Burma at any time", said a
Chin national from Burma who works as a handloom weaver in Aizawl.
Having fled oppression by the military regime in Burma, more
than 40,000 Burmese migrants currently reside in Mizoram state
and work in such occupations as woodcutting, road construction,
handloom weaving, as domestic help, as roadside vendors, and
making brew. |
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