Myanmar Refugees Can approach UNHCR
Source : Indian Express
GS II : India and its neighbourhood- relations
GS III : Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organised crime with terrorism
Why in News ?
The High Court of Manipur on Monday ordered safe passage to seven Myanmar nationals, stranded at a border town in Manipur, to travel to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in New Delhi.
Key Facts
- They fled the country of their origin under imminent threat to their lives and liberty.
- In such a situation, insisting that they first answer for admitted violations of our domestic laws would be palpably inhuman.
- The petitioner approached the court to pass an order for safe passage to the seven Myanmar nationals to seek protection from UNHCR.
- Concerns for protection
- India has no clear refugee protection policy or framework.
- But does grant asylum to a large number of refugees from the neighbouring country.
- India usually respects UNHCR’s recognition of the status of such asylum seekers, mainly from Afghanistan and Myanmar.
- But according to Indian Laws the seven persons who admittedly entered the country illegally should first face the consequences of their unlawful acts.
- Constitutional freedoms available under Article 19 are limited to citizens
- These seven persons cannot claim such freedoms under Articles 19(1)(d) and 19 (1)(e), with regard to moving freely or residing/settling in any part of the territory of India.
Brief Background for current unrest
- A coup in Myanmar began on the morning of February 2021
- The reason was when democratically elected members of the country’s ruling party National League for Democracy (NLD) were deposed by the Myanmar’s military
- The country made under military rule by declaring the results of the November 2020 general election invalid.
- Military coup that ousted an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
- Tensions between the KNU and the military increased during the unrest following the 2021 Myanmar coup.
- Most of the Myanmar people were satisfied with the election result.
- About 56,000 people have been displaced and 1000 died by conflict in Myanmar this year.
- Karen rebels and the Myanmar army have clashed near the Thai border in the most intense fighting in the area in 25 years.
India and Myanmar Relation
- Border
- The 1,600 km (990 mi) India–Myanmar border separates the Indian states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
- India and Myanmar also share a maritime border along India’s Andaman Islands.
- India is Burma’s 4th largest trading partner after Thailand, China and Singapore.
- Indo-Myanmar Friendship Road built by the Indian Army’s Border Roads Organisation
- It aimed to provide a major strategic and commercial transport route.
- India and Myanmar have agreed to a 4-lane, 3200 km triangular highway connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand.
- The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project will connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe capital of Rakhine states in Myanmar by sea.
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