Bru-Reang Refugee Crisis – Issue and Settlement
This article talks about Bru-Reang refugee crisis, origin of the issue and government efforts for resolution of this crisis. It also discusses the most recent package offered by the government which seems to end the settlement problem of Bru or Reang refugees.
Who are Bru / Reang people?
Are they Refugees?
Origin of Bru-Reang Refugee Crisis
Post Violence Events
Government Efforts for Repatriation
What is the Solution?
Conclusion
Who are Bru / Reang people?
Bru is a community of tribal people. They are inhabitants of North Eastern states of Tripura, Mizoram, and Assam. This tribal community is known as “Reang” in Mizoram and “Bru” in Tripura. Their religious beliefs are close to that of Hinduism. Bru is the second largest tribal community in Tripura. They constitute one of the 21 schedule tribes in state of Tripura.
Are they Refugees?
Since Bru or Reang people are inhabitants of India (their own country), it is not correct to call them refugees. It is better to use the term “Internally Displaced People”. Bru / Reang are internally displaced people who shifted to Tripura from Mizoram two decades ago as a result of ethnic violence.
Origin of Bru-Reang Refugee Crisis
Before 1997, a large number of Bru / Reang used to live in Mamit and Kolasin districts of Mizoram. They were also present in Lunglei district of Mizoram in small number. In 1995, ethnic clashes erupted in state of Mizoram between Mizo community and Reang community. Mizo’s Students Association and Young Students Association demanded for taking away electoral rights of Reang people. The demand was completely unconstitutional. Tensions were already there in Mizoram, meanwhile in 1997 a forest guard was murdered. Mizos blamed Reang people for this. Violence erupted in October 1997 and hundreds of houses of Bru / Reang people were burnt in many villages. Reang people faced several murders and rapes. Mizoram government accepted burning of houses but in lesser number but it did not accept any murder or rape. As a result of this brutal treatment with Reang, out of fear they left their homes Mizoram and reached the neighboring state of Tripura.
About 37000 displaced Bru people took refuge in Tripura and since then they are suffering. They are homeless and need to be settled. Their situation is known by the term of Bru-Reang refugee crisis.
Post Violence Events
After this migration, some organizations evolved to represent Bru people. One political organization and another militant group arose. “Bru National Liberation Front” (BNLF) is militant while “Bru National Union” (BNU) is a political group for representing interests of Bru community. MBDPF (Mizoram Bru Displaced People Forum) is an umbrella organization representing rights of Bru in Tripura.
Since displacement of 37,000 Reang in 1997, only 5,000 returned to Mizoram. Rest 32,000 are still like refugees in Tripura.
Government Efforts for Repatriation
Government made nine attempts to repatriate Bru people to Mizoram but failed. Bru families were not ready to return due to fear of insecurity. In 2018, government made 9th attempt to repatriate them by providing financial assistance through settlement package worth Rs 435 Crore. It was an agreement between state governments of Tripura, Mizoram, Union Home Ministry and MBDPF. The agreement promised to provide Rs 1.5 lakh in three installments, a deposit of Rs 4 lakh after three years stay in Mizoram, monthly Rs 5000 cash and ration for two years. After few weeks of this agreement, MBDPF pulled out from it. This resulted in failure of this attempt of repatriation. The demands of Bru were valid. They put forward following demands:
- Safety
- Autonomous district under 6th schedule
- Stay in cluster villages
- Land verification before allotment
- Immediate access to deposit of Rs 4 lakh
2nd demand was rejected by Mizoram government.
What is the Solution?
In 2020, government found a new solution for Bru-Reang refugee crisis. This time, the sufferers are not required to return to the place where they feel insecure. Rather they are given financial assistance in same state where they sought refuge 22 years ago. The new financial package worth Rs 600 Crore is going to provide following to Bru refugees in Tripura:
- Land in Tripura for residence – 40 x 30 square feet residential plots
- Rs 4 lakh as fixed deposit to each Bru family which can be withdraw after 2 years
- Rs 5000 cash per month and ration for 2 years
The parties involved in this agreement are same as that of 2018 agreement. These are Union Home Ministry, state governments of Tripura, Mizoram and MBDPF.
Conclusion
Bru refugees were suffering from more than last two decades in their own country. The latest step taken by the authorities could also be taken earlier. It could help in reducing the sufferings of innocent tribal people. It seems that the current package might be helpful in resolving Bru-Reang refugee crisis.
See Other Possts: Issue of Nagaland, Naxalism
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