Treat them humanely : CCM

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 28 : The Citizens Committee, Manipur (CCM)  has appealed to the State Government to treat the suspected Myanmar Nationals who were arrested from Churachandpur humanely and shared suggestions on how to handle the refugee crisis.
The committee suggested issuing some sort of identity cards to the Myanmar Nationals living in the State and setting up a designated camp with basic facilities until the  situation in the neighbouring country returns to some level of normalcy.
A press release issued by CCM said that they have learnt about the arrest of about a hundred 'Myanmar Nationals,' including women and children who were taking shelter at Churachand- pur.
Claiming that they ('the Myanmar Nationals') were initially kept at a police station without any food till noon, the CCM further claimed that the suspected foreign Nationals were also not produced before any Magistrate till this afternoon either and reportedly have been taken to Imphal.
"Considering the civil unrest and tumultuous situation in Myanmar  following the military coup, our brethren and  sisters who have fled their home and hearths and seeking shelter in our land should be treated as refugees and asylum seekers as per international human rights standards and not as illegal immigrants," CCM said and urged the Government not to repatriate them forcibly.
The committee further stated that the Government should  consider adopting a smarter and more humane response to the refugee crisis as done by the Mizoram Government.
"Our response to the crisis in the neighbouring country  needs to be nuanced and humane as the State not only shares a long border but also a long history with Myanmar," CCM said and urged the Government to respect the rights of the Myanmar Nationals who have been arrested.