‘No Refuge For Myanmarese’: Order ‘Misconstrued And ‘Misinterpreted’, Says Manipur Govt

Withdrawing the order as many on social dubbed it “inhuman” and against the country’s tradition of hospitality. the home department on Monday wrote again to the Deputy Commissioners of Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul and Churachandpur, who had been earlier asked to ensure that Aadhar enrollment was stopped immediately and the kits used in the procedure were taken to safe custody.

This handout from Ei Tu Hta community leaders taken and received on March 29, 2021 shows Karen people, who had crossed the Salween river into Thailand to seek refuge after air strikes in eastern Myanmar's Karen state following the February military coup, being requested by the Thai authorities to leave Mae Hong Son and head back in boats across to the Myanmar side of the river. Handout / EI TU HTA COMMUNITY LEADERS / AFP

Imphal: The Manipur Government, which drew sharp criticism following an order issued on March 26 against the local authorities setting up food and shelter camps for Myanmar citizens entering India, has withdrawn the same stating “it appears that the contents of the letter have been misconstrued and interpreted differently”

Withdrawing the order as many on social dubbed it “inhuman” and against the country’s tradition of hospitality, the home department on Monday wrote again to the Deputy Commissioners of Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul and Churachandpur, who had been earlier asked to ensure that Aadhar enrollment was stopped immediately and the kits used in the procedure were taken to safe custody.

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“It appears that the contents of the letter have been misconstrued and interpreted differently...In order to avoid this misunderstanding I am directed to convey the decision of the government that it has decided to withdraw the letter dated 26.03.2021 mentioned above,” Manipur Government’s Special Home Secretary H. Gyan Prakash said in the letter.

“The government has been taking all humanitarian steps...including taking them (refugees) to Imphal, to treat the injured Myanmarese nationals. The state government continues to provide all aid,” he added.

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The order issued earlier by the state’s home department had asked the border officials to “politely turn away” those seeking refuge in India.

This comes as Myanmar's Ambassador to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun, had earlier appealed to New Delhi and the various governments of its states bordering the nation to provide shelter to the refugees given the humanitarian crisis unfolding there.