The Citizens Committee, Manipur (CCM) has resolved to continue helping people who are entering the state after fleeing violence in Myanmar.

After the February 1 coup by the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) that overthrew a democratically elected government, the entire country erupted into protests. But the Tatmadaw started violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters. Many citizens including children have been shot dead. Many countries and international organisations like the UN have repeatedly raised concerns about the situation in the country where the ousted political leader have been jailed and are all set to be prosecuted on allegedly trumped up charges of corruption.

Many people from Myanmar are escaping the violence by crossing into India and entering Manipur. While, there was some reluctance on part of the administration that had at one point issued orders to not help such refugees, it was quickly withdrawn following public outcry.

Now the CCM, a humanitarian group of concerned citizens led by former Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, has decided to take a series of measures including making “a representation to the Prime Minister of India to ensure that Myanmar citizens fleeing their country from persecution are treated humanely in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).”

The group is setting up a humanitarian sub-committee under Professor Amay Yunmam as chairperson. It has also resolved to raise funds and resources to help these refugees by appealing to people to contribute in cash or kind. Further details of the CCM’s plans may be read here:

Meanwhile, Min Aung Hlaing who led the Tatmadaw coup, is determined to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Indonesia next week.  

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Being a democratic authority, the Manipur government must protect Myanmar refugees and formulate an open policy to deal with the neighbouring humanitarian crisis, said the Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights and the United Nations (CSCHR) on March 30, 2021.

“lt will be in the long-term national interest of lndia as well as larger cause of humanity to respect human rights of persecuted Myanmar nationals by opening up temporary camps in border areas and providing food, shelter, basic health care and other amenities. This noble gesture will be lauded by the world and lndia will prove itself as a matured democracy,” said CSCHR Convener Phulindro Konsam in a press statement.

In its statement, the group expressed outrage against the viral March 26 letter by the State Special Secretary (Home) H. Gyan Prakash forbidding border district administrations and civil society organisations from opening any camp for Myanmar citizens.

“The Civil Society Coalition for Human rights in Manipur and the United Nations (CSCHR) is outraged by the letter dated March 26 issued by the State Special Secretary (Home) circulated in the social media, forbidding the District Administration of border districts and even CSOs from opening any camp to provide shelter and food to the Myanmar nationals who are trying to enter/seek refuge in Manipur as a fall out of the events taking place in the neighbouring country,” it said.

The order has since been repealed with a statement from the government claiming the document was misconstrued.

CSCHR members have also raised concerns about refugees who escaped to neighbouring Indian states following the military coup in February that led to huge violence against pro-democracy protesters.

“Following the recent military coup, the raging public protest have been met by unprecedented brutality by the military regime. The protest however did not dampen despite of the repression. Understandably, the persecuted citizens are likely to seek refuge in the neighbouring states of lndia including Manipur. At least five Myanmar nationals are currently undergoing treatment of bullet injuries in government hospitals in lmphal. According to reliable sources, thousands of Myanmar nationals have already sneaked inside Manipur through the porous international border. This is likely to continue as the situation is escalating on the other side of the border,” said CSCHR.

Against the backdrop of these events, the CSCHR in its letter, requested the Government of lndia as well as the state government to take a principled position as a democratic country upholding the rule of law and universally recognised human rights and come out with a means to help with the Myanmar crisis.

“This is likely to continue as the situation escalates on the other side of the border. lndia has moral, constitutional and human right obligation to protect them. The protection of right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of lndia is not confined only to lndian citizens; it is also available to “all persons”,” said CSCHR.

The human right to seek refuge has been well established and settled as the law of the land along with a catena of Supreme Court and High Court judgements. The CSCHR has requested the union government to offer asylum from persecution for Myanmar citizens despite not being a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.

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While the government of India is yet to make a comment on the issue, questions are being raised if a major impact will soon be felt here after the United States imposed sanctions on two Myanmar military companies. According to multiple media reports an Australian human rights lawyers collective have claimed that Adani Group is financially involved with one of the companies. It was reported by The Tribune that the US sanctioned Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) last week as it was “a vital financial lifeline” for the “Junta which has overthrown the elected government and killed hundreds of unarmed protesters”. The Australian lawyers’ report has claimed that Adani is paying about Rs 2,500 crore to MEC. According to the Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) and the Justice for Myanmar group there is documentation that revealed that the money was provided to MEC which “stands credibly accused and is being investigated at the ICC and ICJ for crimes against humanity”.

According to news reports the “intention is to pressure Canberra into dumping its investment in Adani Ports, which also owns North Queensland operations linked to Carmichael coal mine”. The Australian lawyers and activists also want sovereign wealth funds and pension funds to stop investing in Adani Group on ethical grounds. However, the Adani Ports spokesperson has denied the allegation saying, “The Yangon project is independent with no joint venture partners. We are watching the situation carefully and will engage with relevant authorities and stakeholders to seek their advice for the way forward.”

The Australian ABC news has reported that even though the Adani group denies engaging with Myanmar’s military leadership over the port deal a “video suggests otherwise”. It reported that the Adani Group is paying up to $US52 million ($68.1 million) to a Myanmar military-controlled company. This firm has now “been slapped with sanctions by the United States over human rights violations.” According to this news report, the activists have said that a video and photos show that Adani Ports’ boss met with the Junta’s top general in 2019, thus contradicting the company’s claim last month that it had never “engaged with military leadership” in Myanmar. It added that “leaked documents, from the Yangon Region Investment Commission, show Adani’s subsidiary is paying $US30 million to MEC in “land lease fees”.”

According to the ABC news the report’s author and ACIJ human rights lawyer Rawan Arraf has said the documents were leaked “shortly after the violent February 1 coup perpetrated by senior general Min Aung Hlaing and his cartel of the Myanmar military”. She is quoted by ABC saying, “These documents reveal in particular is the amount that was provided to the MEC, a Myanmar military conglomerate that is controlled and owned by the Myanmar military [which] stands credibly accused and is being investigated at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and even in the case of the crimes against the Rohingya, genocide.” She added, “Adani has been put on notice several times publicly, and they’ve refused to disengage from their Myanmar deal with [MEC] and that’s a real problem. This money indirectly could be financing the Myanmar military to conduct international crimes.” 

Australian lawyer Chris Sidoti who was a member of a 2019 United Nations fact-finding mission to Myanmar, which warned foreign companies against doing business with MEC and named Adani Ports as one of those engaged with the military conglomerate, was also quoted as saying, “The question for investors in Adani is whether they want to fund the operations of the Myanmar military, because that is what they are doing indirectly by investing in Adani.”

Meanwhile, this report also quoted a “spokeswoman” for Adani Ports who reportedly said the company was “watching the situation in Myanmar carefully and will engage with the relevant authorities and stakeholders to seek their advice on the way forward”. Soon after Myanmar’s coup, the Adani Group had issued a statement denying it had engaged with military leaders over the 2019 approval of its $US290 million port, “We categorically deny having engaged with military leadership while receiving this approval or thereafter.” However, according to ABC news, Adani Ports chief executive Karan Adani met with top general Min Aung Hlaing, an accused war criminal, in late July 2019.

Related:

What is India’s stand on humanitarian aid to those fleeing Myanmar violence?

India seals all entry points along Myanmar border

What will become of Jammu’s Rohingya refugees?

The post Will India face the impact of US sanctions on Myanmar military companies? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Manipur government on Monday, withdrew its earlier order that directed officials “not to provide food or shelter to Myanmar refugees”. According to a report by NDTV, the Manipur government had issued  an order to the five districts bordering Myanmar directing them not to “politely turn away” refugees. Terrified Myanmar nationals are fleeing the violence that has engulfed their nation, following the February 1 military coup.

According to media reports, the latest letter signed by Manipur government’s Special Secretary (Home) H. Gyan Prakash, says the contents of the earlier order of March 26 were “misconstrued and interpreted differently”. The now controversial original order was addressed to the deputy commissioners of the Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul and Churachandpur districts, and reportedly directed them to tighten border security and “should not be allowed to open any camps to provide food and shelter”.

On March 26, stated multiple media reports, that Prakash’s office had issued a directive that there should not be any camp to provide food and shelter to Myanmar nationals and no civil society group should not provide food and shelter to the refugees either. It had added that those trying to enter/seek refuge should be “politely turned away.” This caused the Manipur government to draw severe criticism, and was compared to humanitarian actions of the Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga who had refused to turn away Myanmar nationals, who entered the state through the border, despite the Centre’s instructions to the contrary. According to media reports, nearly 1,000 Myanmar nationals are taking shelter in Mizoram right now.

Even as thousands continued to suffer in Myanmar amidst the ongoing military crackdown after the February 1, 2021 coup, India had sealed all entry points along its border with the country. According to a report in The Hindu, India was then closely monitoring the areas “to prevent any Myanmar nationals from entering the country”. Meanwhile Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had held a virtual meeting on Sunday March 21, with Myanmar’s Foreign Minister of Zin Mar Aung.  There are 72 border pillars along the IMB spread across four States of which 32 border pillars are in Mizoram, reported the Hindu, adding that pillar 1 is at the trijunction between India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The Manipur government’s fresh order now says that the state government has been taking all “necessary humanitarian steps, including taking in some injured Myanmar refugees to the state capital Imphal for treatment,” reported The  Hindustan Times. The report quoted H Gyan Prakash saying, “The fresh letter was issued on Monday which directed the deputy commissioners in four districts to disregard the earlier letter issued on March 26.” According to Prakash, “The Manipur government has been providing all aid to Myanmar nationals who have entered India via the borders with the state” and that all necessary humanitarian steps were being taken. It was reported that   Monday’s order stated that it was to avoid misunderstanding, the earlier letter has been withdrawn.

However, India was among eight nations that attended an annual military parade in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw on March 27. According to a report in the Indian Express, Russia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand also sent representatives to Myanmar to be part of the parade to mark Tatmadaw Day on Saturday. The IE quoted a senior official in the South Block who said, “Since diplomatic relations between both the countries continue, diplomatic commitments are also continuing”. According to media reports, this annual parade took place a day after the military chiefs of nearly a dozen nations condemned the excessive use of force by the Myanmarese military against the protesters. 

Meanwhile, Myanmar’s military junta warned that its forces “would shoot protesters in the head”, this was announced over its state television stated news reports, as anti-coup activists had called for a huge show of defiance on the country’s Armed Forces Day on Saturday. According to reports, a broadcast on the MRTV news channel directed at protesters said, “You should learn… that you can be in danger of getting shot to the head and back.” Hundreds of people, including children, have already been killed in the violence that is reported to be continuing in the neighbouring country. Many have reportedly died from shots to the head, raising suspicions they were deliberately targeted for killing, stated a report in NDTV.      

Related:

India seals all entry points along Myanmar border

Coup in Myanmar: Military detains Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint

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