ZPM to continue providing shelter refugees from Manipur, Myanmar, Bangladesh: Mizoram CM

Guwahati: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhona on Thursday said that his Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) led government would continue to provide shelter and support to over 45,500 people from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur.

Participating in the discussion on the vote of thanks to the Governor’s speech in the assembly, the Chief Minister said that he had already discussed the refugee issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar over phone before he was sworn in as the Chief Minister on December 8.

He said that he would meet Shah and Jaishankar in Delhi soon to discuss the refugee issue and seek the Centre's support.


“The refugee issue is a sensitive matter. We would deal with the issue in consultation with the Central government. The refugee issue is not a political affairs, it is purely a humanitarian aspect."

After the military took over the reign in the neighbouring country (Myanmar), Myanmarese fled to Mizoram and now their numbers rose to around 32,000 while more than 1,100 Bangladeshi tribals have taken shelter in Mizoram after ethnic trouble in Chittagong Hill tracts of that country.

Around 13,000 tribals from riot-hit Manipur also took shelter in Mizoram since ethnic conflicts broke out in the neighbouring state on May 3.

Mizoram shares 510-km and 318-km unfenced international borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh respectively.