Hunger will push us over the edge, warn leaders of displaced Brus

GUWAHATI: Fearing that hungry Bru refugees living in six relief camps of Tripura may go on the rampage in search of food, the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) has sought immediate intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh to restore supply of ration, which was stopped on October 1.
Displaced from Mizoram 21 years ago following ethnic violence, there are over 30,000 Brus living in these camps at present. They have demanded suspension of the repatriation process till the Mizoram assembly election is over.

In a letter addressed to the PM and the home minister, the MBDPF said all adult members of Bru families are running from pillar to post to arrange food for them and their children after ration supply was stopped. "If this situation continues, there will be untoward incidents inside the relief camps and adjoining areas due to hunger. Apparently, there will be a mass rally, road blockade and looting of ration godowns of general public, which can create law and order problems. It is our assumption that there will be conflict among the inmates and also misunderstanding with locals," the MBDPF leaders stated in their letter.

The MBDPF stated that discontinuation of relief was not the right thing to have happened as the repatriation process is underway and there are certain works which are yet to be initiated by the Centre, state governments of Tripura and Mizoram for starting the repatriation process as per the agreement with Delhi and the two state governments.

"We would like to bring to your kind notice that the MBDPF is confused about the physical repatriation of 42 families in September, 2018, after the agreement as the MBDPF was neither informed by the families which have been repatriated nor by the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram," they said. They added that as the Election Commission of India has already announced the dates of election Mizoram assembly election (November 28), there will be no government officer to take care of the repatriation of Brus as all of them will be extremely busy with election work.

"Our fervent appeal is to kindly have a deep thought and pay attention to the issue and continue supply of relief on humanitarian grounds until and unless the repatriation is fully completed. The repatriation process can be resumed after the assembly election in Mizoram is over " they said. They further added, "Therefore, we, the MBDPF, would like to reiterate that we will be extending all possible cooperation and support to the central government, state governments of Tripura and Mizoram for successful repatriation and rehabilitation process with dignity and honour till the end."