Manipur : According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), nearly 1,00,000 people have been internally displaced, and half have fled to neighbouring countries since the military coup last year.
“Nobody knows when and where the firing would occur. Myanmar is no more a safe place to live, the life of minority Hindus has become worsened post-military crackdown in the country”, said Shanti Thappa (41), a Myanmar Nepali citizen, who has been taking refuge at India’s Moreh town along with her family.
It was revealed talking exclusively with this Correspondent during a visit to Moreh town. Further, she added that the political crisis had plunged the country into complete anarchy where people had no job, education, healthcare and fundamental rights.
Earlier, she was successfully running a shop at Namphalong, a border marketplace under Sagaing Region, Myanmar and earning a good livelihood. However, their life was turned upside down after Tatmadaw ( Myanmar armed forces) deposed the elected government in February 2021 following ongoing civil resistance against the military junta.
Besides the sealing of the international border and the ongoing civil war, like public resistance against Myanmar’s military junta, the daily wage earners were left with no options but to cross the international border for their security and better livelihood.
Like many others, Shanti fled from her country looking for better security, a job and an education for her son and daughter. Shanti’s family of 4 has been staying in Moreh town for the last nine months.
Currently, she sells sandals at a makeshift shop near Moreh gate no 2, while her husband is working as a daily wager at the border town to support children’s education and livelihood.
Besides Shanti, many Myanmar nationals are selling goods at Moreh town after the International border along Northeast (Gate No 1 and Gate No 2) was sealed in March 2021 in the wake of COVID-19.
A local from Moreh Ward No 2 said there is no shortage of imported goods from Myanmar and China even though the gates were closed. Hundreds of Burmese merchants are coming daily to Moreh town stealthily, and goods prices have skyrocketed.
Due to the price rise, “the number of customers has drastically dropped down, and business is not doing well even during festivals like Durga Pooja and Diwali”, informed a sales executive of Pawan Brothers, one of the oldest electronics shops in Moreh.
The flow of goods and services across the border between two nations is cardinal in developing national economies. However, porous borders and unregulated international trade are a global concern nowadays, and India is also a victim of cross-border illegal immigration from neighbouring countries.
THE LARGER PICTURE
Above 40,000 (primarily undocumented) Rohingya from Myanmar sneaked into India and took shelter in different parts of the country. Such influx threatens the host nation’s national security, creating a conflict of interest, undermining the rule of law, rise of radicalisation, militancy and illegal activities.
The Northeastern states of India, like Manipur and Mizoram, which shares a border with Myanmar, are deeply affected by the influx and illegal drug trafficking. The Manipur government has raised the issue to the Centre and called for collective support to prevent illegal migrants.
Chief Minister of Manipur even expresses his concern over the insincerity of locals sheltering illegal Burmese Rohingya and providing fake documents.
The large influx has even created social and political issues in Manipur. Local civil bodies claimed that foreign nationals are openly forming/running armed groups in the hill districts of Manipur, causing social unrest, damaging communal harmony and encouraging illegal drug trafficking.
Since the Northeastern states have close cultural connections with various communities of Myanmar, the easternmost states of India are becoming the haven for Myanmarese illegal migrants. So, the Assam Rifles, who guard the Indo-Myanmar border, and concerned stakeholders to be more vigilant and more rigid on the illicit influx of and construct border fencing before the situation goes out of hand.
