MIZORAM Relief & Rehabilitation Minister Lalrinchhana informed that a total of 282 MNF former undergrounds had been provided government employment since 1987 onwards. Lalrinchhana said with 106 former rebels provided with government employment through a decision made by the Mizoram government Cabinet on October 4, 2000, the total number of former rebels provided with jobs is 282 after Mizoram attained statehood. Bringing up the question of the more than Rs. 1 crore rehabilitation scam, the opposition wanted to know what the government was doing about it. The R & R minister said as the findings of the enquiry committee set up last year had proved unsatisfactory, a one-man judicial enquiry commission had been set up. “As those concerned had not been satisfied with the findings of the enquiry committee, a new one-man judicial enquiry commission has been set up by the government under Finance Department Deputy Secretary Chawngtinthanga. He has been instructed to submit his findings in two months time,” the R&R minister told the House.

When questioned about eight families of 11 who had been staying at Remna Run on the city’s suburbs for the last 17 years given eviction notices, the minister said this was a decision of the courts. “The land where these families are staying is not a government land as a result of which the owners of this land had approached the district magistrate for their eviction. The order to vacate the it and has been issued by the Aizawl district magistrate who is being appealed to by the evictees,” Lalrinchhana explained, saying the matter is in the hands of the court. Myanmarese nationals asked to leave Mizoram by Aug 15 The July 17 minor rape incident, which sparked off a movement to drive Burmese immigrants out of the city, has taken hold of Lunglei town in the south and Champhai town in eastern Mizoram bordering Myanmar and the movement seems to have no end in sight.

Young Mizo Association branches in these two district headquarters, along with adjoining villages, have set a deadline of August 15, 2003 for illegal residents from Myanmar to leave their respective areas. Since all localities in the city and towns would not admit these evicted immigrants into their localities, these displaced persons have no choice but to go back to where they had come from — Myanmar. This, however, has posed quite a few problems for the majority of the displaced persons, as they are now no longer treated as citizens of Myanmar by the Myanmarese authorities. However, for those who still possess a valid mahpumten or identity card, access to Myanmar is not a problem. According to information disclosed by police, a large number of persons who no longer have valid identity cards have crossed over to Myanmar at three unmanned entry points in eastern Mizoram. Their numbers, however, cannot be ascertained as the police said they have not posted personnel at these points. Additional SP Lalremmuana said the latest figure of those who crossed over to Myanmar at the official crossing point at Zokhawthar is 1572. The plight of these people is such that some of them are so poor that bus drivers and conductors who were carrying them to the border had to use their money to pay for food of some of the displaced persons at wayside hotels.

“Though we do not know the exact number, many people who would not be given entry to Myanmar because of non-possession of valid identity cards, have crossed over to Myanmar at Tlangsam, Vaphai and Haimual crossing   points which are not manned by Myanmar authorities.

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