The Reangs from Mizoram, sheltered in six refugee camps in North Tripura since October 1997, has threatened to launch a massive movement, if their demands were not met by the Mizoram National Front government and the Centre. The Mizoram Bru (Reangs are also called as Bru) Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) president Bruno Msha and general secretary Elvis Chorkhy said during the past six years the Mizoram Government had not shown any interest in solving the genuine problems of the Reangs permanently. Over 31,000 Reangs took refuge in six camps following ethnic violence in Mizoram. However, the MBDPF claims that the total number of refugees is 35,000. The Union Government has remained a mute spectator to the Mizoram Government’s attitude towards the refugees despite the repeated pleas, they said. They further said the Reangs would be forced to launch a massive movement, if the Centre and the Mizoram Government maintained silence on the demands of the refugees as wells as Reangs residing in that State. Although the Election Commission had taken necessary steps to ensure the voting rights of the refugees in the November 20 Mizoram Assembly polls, one third of the total refugee voters could not cast their votes due to the Mizoram Government’s “inadequate’’ efforts, they lamented. The refugees also demanded to increase their relief quota of all materials and foods at the earliest.

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