Resumption of Bru repatriation to Mizoram welcomed

NEW DELHI - The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) has welcomed the resumption of the repatriation of Bru internally displaced persons to Mizoram from today.

A total of 35 families left for Kolalian village from their camps at Narsingpara and Asha Para under Kanchanpur Sub-Division, North Tripura.

The ACHR also welcomed the initiatives of the State government of Mizoram to allow the representatives of the Bru displaced persons to inspect the villages where the displaced Brus returned and resettled.

The ACHR further called up on the State government of Mizoram to fully implement the rehabilitation package as being provided by the Central Government of India to ensure that the repatriation process could be completed without any hindrance.

About 30,000 minority Brus were displaced from Mizoram in 1997 following violence directed towards them. Another 5,000 Brus fled in November 2009 following renewed violence.

Since 1997, no repatriation of the Brus took place despite numerous talks between the State government and the Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples Forum.

The first phase of repatriation of the Brus took place on May 21 based on the written assurances given by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Asian Centre for Human Rights.

A total of 231 displaced Bru families consisting of 1,115 persons returned to Mizoram from May 21 to 26.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram visited Mizoram on May 26 and asked Mizoram Government to complete the repatriation within six months.

The repatriation that was suspended resumed today. (ANI)