Mr Justice M N Venkatachaliah
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission of India
Sardar Patel Bhawan
Parliament Street
New Delhi-110001

Subject: (Appeal for NHRC's immediate intervention to stop forcible repatriation of the Reang refugees to Mizoram by the State Government of Tripura by stopping supply of rations)

Dear Justice Venkatachaliah,

This is to draw urgent attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the impending forcible repatriation of the Reang refugees to Mizoram by the State Government of Tripura by stopping the supply of rations to the refuges. Please find enclosed a press report on the issue, which was published in The Asian Age of 25 November 1997 as annexure 1.

Around 12,000 Reangs from Tungbagin, Kawnmun, Pheileng, Laxmicherra, Kwartha, Rangdil, Fileng and Tuipuibari areas of Aizwal district in the State of Mizoram crossed over to Damcherra, Khedacherra, Dhangmun, Kanchanpur and Dharamangr areas of North Tripura to escape from persecution and repression by the Mizo youths in connivance of the Mizoram Police from 15 October 19997 onwards. As the armed Mizo youths belonging to the Mizo Ziralai Pawl (Mizo Students Union) attacked the Reang villages, the Mizoram Police allegedly remained mute witness and allowed the Mizo youths to torch the Reang villages. As the mayhem continued, the Reangs fled their villages taking shelter in Hailakandi district of South Assam, Mayani Reserve Forest of Chittagong Hill tracts and Tripura.

On 26 October 1997, two Reangs were reportedly killed at the Tungbangin area in Mizoram. One of victim was identified as Rangthungpa Reang who was 60 years. The Reangs alleged that at least 10 Reang tribals were killed, a large number of Reang women were raped and molested by the Mizo youths and hundreds of houses were burnt to ashes.

Half-hearted initiatives for repatriation:

On 19 October 1997, a meeting was held between the officials of North Tripura and Aizwal district. It was reportedly decided that the State Government of Mizoram would create the necessary conducive condition for repatriation of the Reang refugees from 22 October 1997. However, before the repatriation could take place, more Reang refugees arrived in Tripura. As stated above, two Reangs were killed on 26 October 1997 at Tungbangin area.

The Deputy Commissioner of Hailakandi, Mr. R. K. Das alleged to the Telegraph (Calcutta) issue of 31 October 1997 that despite sending two faxes to his Aizwal counterpart to discuss about the repatriation of the Reang refugees, no response was received. The reluctance of the State Government of Mizoram to receive the Reang refugees with assurances for their safety, security and dignity was clearly evident.

After the dialogue between the officials of North Tripura district and Aizwal district on 22 October 1997, five refugee families were forcibly sent back to test the situation. However, the refuges faced fresh attacks. Please find enclosed the press clipping of the Telegraph (Calcutta) of 26 October 1997 as Annexure II.

The Home Minister of Mizoram, Mr. Liansuama visited Tripura on 31 October 1997 to take back the Reang and Chakma refugees and held discussion with the officials of the State Government of Tripura. There was no written guarantee as to the safety, security and dignity of minorities like the Reangs in Mizoram, compensation to the victims and prosecution of the culprits.

The Reang refugees demanded reconstruction of their gutted houses and payment of compensation, protection of their lives and property, inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls and official guarantee that there will be no more such attacks or harassment by the Mizo youths.

The repression and persecution of the minorities like the Reangs by the private organizations like Mizo Zirlai Pawl has been systematic and persistent. The MZP in connivance of the State Government officials have been deleting the names of the minorities from voter lists and perpetrated other harassments like outraging the modesty of the women and elderly persons and torture of the minority youths. The State Government has allegedly given free hands to the student organizations like MZP and refused to intervene when the MZP activists were distributing pamphlets to create communal disharmony.

The failure of the Mizoram Government to provide written guarantees to the safety, security and dignity of the Reang refugees cannot evoke the necessary confidence for their repatriation. On the other hand, the State Government of Tripura has been forcibly repatriating the Reang refugees. Although, 4000 refugees have been repatriated so far, the rest fled to the jungles fearing forcible repatriation.

It is indeed a matter of shame that Reang minorities of the largest democratic country in the world have to flee from their villages to seek refuge in the jungles of neighbouring country like the Mayani Reserve Forest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh to escape from atrocities perpetrated by the dominant Mizos. Worst, an apparent Mizo-centric State Government refuses to protect the Reangs and other minorities. Since they find no assistance in the jungles of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, they came to seek refuge in Tripura. Instead of getting humanitarian assistance, the State Government is threatening to use humanitarian assistance to blackmail the Reang refugees in an attempt for forcibly repatriate them.

The Honourable NHRC needs to take the plight of the Reang refugees seriously considering the fact that no person wants to leave his place and live a refugee life. India has ratified numerous international human rights treaty to uphold the principle of non-refoulment of refugees. Principle of non-refoulment is not applicable only for the refugees crossing international boundaries, it must be applicable to the refugees in domestic situation.

The termination of the supply of rations could seriously affect the Reang refugees especially the children and women. Earlier, General Secretary of the Tripura Upajati Juva Samiti, Mr. Rabindra Debbarama stated that “at least 12 refugees are suffering from enteric diseases and two women have delivered babies in open space”. Please find enclosed the press clipping of the same as Annexure III.

Unless the NHRC makes urgent intervention, the Reang refugees will be repatriated forcibly without any guarantee as to their safety, security, dignity and liberty. While one understands that the Reang refugees shall have to return, forcible repatriation would tantamount to violations of the Constitution of India and India's obligation under international human rights treaties.

I shall appreciate if the NHRC could consider this letter as a formal complaint and take the following measures for amicable solution of the Reang refugee crisis by ensuring their safety, security, dignity and liberty:

1. Direct the State Government of Tripura not to stop supply of rations and other supplies in an attempt to forcibly repatriate the Reang refugees to Mizoram; 

2. Direct the State Government of Mizoram to order a judicial inquiry to investigate human rights abuses which led to exodus of 12,000 Reangs and other minorities to Tripura State and that the inquiry be completed within a specified period of time to enable prosecution of the culprits; 

3. Direct the State Government of Mizoram to give written assurances to the National Human Rights Commission outlining the initiatives it seeks to undertake on the safety, security, dignity and liberty of the Reangs in particular and minorities in general within a specified time frame; 

4. Direct the State Government of Mizoram to outline its programmes to control the activities of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl activists who have been responsible for large scale attacks on the minorities including the Reangs; 

5. Direct the State Government of Mizoram to provide interim relief to the relatives of those Reangs who have been killed and those who have been subjected to rape and torture; 

6. Direct the State Government of Mizoram to provide adequate compensation to the victims whose houses have been burn by miscreants; 

7. Direct the Union Home Ministry to organize the repatriation of the Reang refugees under the protection of the Central Reserve Police Forces and deploy Central Security Forces in the Reang and Chakma inhabited areas to prevent such untoward incidents;

With respectful regards,

Yours sincerely

Suhas Chakma
Coordinator