1. Why in news
1.1. Mizoram CM has expressed his sympathies for the people fleeing areas bordering Mizoram.
1.1.1. inhabited by Chin communities
1.1.1.1. who are ethnically Mizo
2. Who are the Chin Communities
2.1. The Chin Hills, or the Indo-Chin hill ranges
2.1.1. mountainous region in north-western Myanmar.
2.1.2. At an elevation of 2100-3000 metres
2.1.3. heavily- forested mountain region
2.1.4. home of numerous tribes that fall under the Zo umbrella.
2.1.4.1. The Zo people include all the tribes that come under the Chin-Kuki-Mizo ethnic group
2.1.4.1.1. spread across Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.
2.1.4.1.2. They include a host of tribes, sub-tribes and clans
2.2. Ethnic Origin
2.2.1. Believed to have originated in China,
2.2.2. the tribes migrated through Tibet to settle in Myanmar
2.2.3. speak a group of the Tibeto-Burman languages.
2.2.4. constant feuds among clans of different tribes and their kings (chieftains)
2.2.4.1. Affect
2.2.4.1.1. many of the clans migrated westwards, towards Mizoram and some parts of Manipur,
2.3. nature of bond with Mizos
2.3.1. Although separated by border with
2.3.1.1. consider themselves “one people’’ despite past conflicts: the Indo-Chin people.
2.3.2. Binding force
2.3.2.1. Shared religion
2.3.2.1.1. Mizoram is Christian majority
2.3.2.1.2. Chin people of Myanmar are also Christian
2.3.3. Mizos fear persecution of Christian minority chin population in Myanmar
2.3.3.1. By the Junta
3. How well are they connected
3.1. Indian policies have created a stronger bond
3.1.1. India’s Look East, Act East policy and greater interactions on the borders
3.1.1.1. have strengthened an already strong connection between the people on either side of the borde
3.2. The Mizoram-Myanmar border is porous, with very little fencing
3.2.1. Myanmar residents have been crossing this open border for decades.
3.2.1.1. latest influx has been driven by the coup
3.3. Migration of Mizos
3.3.1. Mizos from Champhai district and elsewhere migrated to Myanmar, setting up villages in the Kalay-Kabaw valley.
3.3.1.1. In the early 20th century,
3.3.2. Many Mizo families also migrated to Myanmar in 1966 and 1986,
3.3.2.1. Why
3.3.2.1.1. the Mizo National Front sought secession from India,.
3.3.2.2. Many are believed to have joined the Myanmar army for lucrative employment.
4. The Free movement regime
4.1. The two countries have this arrangement
4.1.1. allows locals on either side to go up to 16 km on the other side and stay up to 14 days.
4.2. Affect
4.2.1. Thousands regularly cross over on either side for work .
4.2.2. Cross to meet relatives, often unofficially and for extended periods.
4.2.3. Marriages are often arranged across the border.
5. Trade dependency on Myanmar
5.1. Mizoram depends to a large extent on Myanmar for many essential commodities
5.1.1. beef, pork, good quality rice, fruits, and household utensils.
5.2. Mizoram sends across items scarce in Myanmar
5.2.1. such as medicines or fertilisers.
6. India’s policy on asylum seekers
6.1. India
6.1.1. is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention and 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees
6.1.2. the Centre circulated to all states and UTs a Standard Operating Procedure to deal with foreign nationals who claimed to be refugees.
6.1.2.1. In 2011
6.1.2.2. An illegal immigrant can be a foreign national
6.1.2.2.1. who enters India on valid travel documents and stays beyond their validity or a foreign national who enters without valid travel documents.
6.1.2.2.2. Cases can be justified on grounds of
7. What is happening with Mizoram
7.1. The Mizo Zirlai Pawl
7.1.1. the apex Mizo students body
7.1.2. held a sit-in demonstration in Aizawl
7.1.2.1. in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.
7.2. Several Mizo village council authorities have issued letters and statements
7.2.1. affirming their willingness to accommodate Chin refugees.
7.3. The CM gave an assurance in the Assembly
7.3.1. That the state government would be ready to provide assistance to civilians fleeing the Myanmar regime.