The Indian government plans to repatriate all Myanmar refugees currently residing in Manipur State to Myanmar by 2025, according to those who are helping refugees.
A leader of the Shan CSO in Manipur State said, “This is a very sad decision by the government. I think the refugees will be handed over to the military council. According to the government’s plan, all refugees must return by March 2025. Those without families will be sent back before that time, while those with families must remain until March and return after that.”
Although the details of the Indian government’s decision are still unclear, the Chief Minister of Manipur has been consistently discussing and working on the repatriation of Myanmar refugees.
He said that the central government may be in a hurry to repatriate the refugees due to the ongoing conflict between the Kuki and Meitei groups in Manipur state.
“I think the Manipur government will listen to the central government. The state government does not have the power to end the conflicts between Meitei and Kuki in Manipur state. These conditions may be connected to the factors that led to the forced repatriation of Myanmar refugees,” he said.
From 2021 to May 2024, over 5,000 illegal immigrants were residing in Manipur state along the Myanmar-India border. On 8 May, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh announced that the repatriation process was currently underway.
On 2 May, India handed over several Myanmar nationals imprisoned at Imphal jail in Manipur State through the Moreh-Tamu border gate on the Myanmar-India border. More than 5,000 people have fled to Manipur due to the ongoing conflict, including nearly 3,000 Shanni refugees.
Shanini ethnic people living in Tha Nan, Soe Tha Yar, and Aung Zeya villages in Tamu Township have fled to India since December 2023, escaping the conflict between the junta forces and Kuki and local defense groups.
Sent by Shanni Voice
