The state of Manipur in India has deported 38 individuals back to Myanmar on Thursday in an attempt to address the tide of refugees fleeing the political unrest in Myanmar. With this recent wave of deportations, the total number of deportees now amounts to 77, marking the conclusion of the first phase of repatriation efforts.
Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, stressed the impartiality of the deportation process, asserting, “Without any discrimination, we have completed the first phase of deportation of illegal immigrants from Myanmar.” He also heightened the importance of preserving border security and safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.
The deportations are a response to the continuing crisis in Myanmar, which initiated with the military coup on February 1, 2021. Since the coup, thousands of Myanmar nationals, including women and children, have sought asylum in Manipur, with over 5,000 individuals presently taking refuge in the state.
While India has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention providing legal rights and protections for refugees, some Indian states, like Mizoram, have provided humanitarian assistance and shelter to those fleeing the conflict in Myanmar. Over the past decades, a similar situation has unfolded in Mizoram state where over 32,000 individuals have sought asylum, including civilians and former Myanmar soldiers.
In spite of challenges presented by intermittent violence and ethnic clashes, Manipur continues its efforts to repatriate illegal immigrants and maintain law and order in its border areas. Collaboration with Myanmar officials is facilitating this deportation process.
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