In Mizoram, voices grow against the Centre’s silence on Myanmar ‘bombing’ asking the government ‘safeguard the sovereignty of India’.
Influential civil society groups have urged the Centre to respond to the violation of Indian airspace and to ‘safeguard the sovereignty of India’. This happens four days after the Myanmar military reportedly dropped a bomb in Mizoram’s Champhai district during an airstrike targeting a key rebel training camp. The evident silence of the Indian government on this is growing unease in Mizoram.
Civil society groups in Mizoram called on the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre to respond to the violation of Indian airspace and to “safeguard the sovereignty of India”.
The NGO Coordination Committee, a collective of five influential civil society organizations and student bodies in the state, on Friday said, “We strongly condemn the violation of airspace and bombing of Indian territories by the Myanmar air force. We request the Government of India to safeguard the sovereignty of India. We will pursue the matter with the Union home minister for immediate action.”
Matthew Smith shared a letter released by the Young Mizo Association: “Influential civil society groups in #Mizoram reacting to the #Myanmar military bombing the #India-Myanmar border. #NewDelhi best take note. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Influential civil society groups in #Mizoram reacting to the #Myanmar military bombing the #India-Myanmar border. #NewDelhi best take note. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar https://t.co/zUjjK1BAYh
— Matthew Smith (@matthewfsmith) January 14, 2023
#Mizoram civil society organizations and student bodies condemned the violation of airspace and bombing of Indian territories by the Myanmar air force.
They called on the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre to respond to the incident.
#Mizoram civil society organisations and student bodies condemned the violation of airspace and bombing of Indian territories by the Myanmar air force.
They called on the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre to respond to the incident. https://t.co/hcmFLGIPTK pic.twitter.com/m7BIVEZ9ph
— Scroll.in (@scroll_in) January 15, 2023
Residents of Farkawn Village in Champhai district had said that a bomb had landed in the village on Tuesday afternoon when the Myanmar military carried out strikes on Camp Victoria, the headquarters of the rebel Chin National Army, right across the Tiau river that divides the two countries. The Chin National Army is among many groups putting up armed resistance against the Myanmar junta.
Mizoram Congress leader Dr Ngurdingliana called for a statement of reassurance from the Centre. “Mizoram is an integral part of India and all residents of Mizoram are Indian citizens. When they are endangered by foreign elements, like in the present incident, the government of India should at least come out with a statement and safeguard its citizens,” he said. He acknowledged, however, that the Indian government’s foreign policy is “very soft” because of concerns over Chinese influence in the region.
The Assam Rifles, which guards the India-Myanmar border, has not made an official statement on the matter. But an unidentified senior official of the Assam Rifles told PTI that the explosions did not occur on the Indian side of the border.
Sumir Karmaker said,”Bombing in #Myanmar “rebel camps” result in a fresh influx into #Mizoram, 30 refugees reach #Champhai district.”
Bombing in #Myanmar "rebel camps" result in fresh influx into #Mizoram, 30 refugees reach #Champhai district.https://t.co/Ky9hCInx6x @DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/cY3zRrFxkP
— Sumir Karmakar (@SumirDH) January 13, 2023
A netizen commented, “Modi threatened China before the election in 2014. Now Mynamar is crossing the Indian border and the very people of the endangered area are in a position to catch the attention of the BJP and Modi. How miserable!! Bluffing and governing as big and hugely diverse a country as India is never the same thing.” (sic)