Who are the Kuki Chins? Why are they fleeing Bangladesh and seeking shelter in Mizoram?

More refugees from Bangladesh belonging to the Kuki Chin group are likely to enter Mizoram, top officials said.

Oineetom Ojah

More refugees from Bangladesh belonging to the Kuki Chin group are likely to enter Mizoram indicating that the violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in south-eastern Bangladesh is showing no signs of a let up. The Kuki Chin groups have their brethren, who speak the same language and belong to the same ethic stock, in the north-eastern states particularly in Mizoram and Manipur. In one week (Nov 20-26) as many as 293 Kuki Chin refugees have entered Mizoram. Authorities are expecting many more as several Kuki Chins are said to be hiding in the jungles of Bangladesh waiting to cross over.

Why are the Kuki Chins Fleeing Bangladesh?

People from the Kuki-Chin community, who are ethnically and culturally different from the majority Muslim population of Bangladesh, are fleeing Bangladesh to escape the fighting between the Bangladesh Army and the Kuki Chin National Army (KNA), an ethnic insurgent group in Bangladesh. According to the Zo Re-Unification Organisation (ZORO), fighting for the re-unification of all ethnic Mizo or Zo tribes, the Bangladesh Army’s Rapid Action Battalion and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence has entered into a secret pact with the Myanmar based ethnic armed organisation of Rakhine State (Arakan), the Arakan Army, and are jointly attacking KNA.

Why is KNA being attacked?

The KNA and its political wing Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) has been demanding a separate state and better facilities for the Kuki Chins in Bangladesh. The Arakan Army, the military wing of the United League of Arakan is fighting for an independent Rakhin State (Arakan) and are on a cleansing spree.

Who are the Kuki Chins and why are they fleeing to Mizoram?

The Chins of Myamnar, the Mizos of Mizoram and the Kukis of Bangladesh are of the same ancestry and belongs to the Kuki ethnic group native to the Mizo hills. They are collectively called the Zo people.  The Kuki Chin people are settled in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the only extensive hill area in Bangladesh that lies in the south-eastern part of the country. It borders Myanmar on the southeast, Tripura on the north, Mizoram on the east and the Chittagong district in west. Mizoram shares a 318-km stretch of international border with Bangladesh.

Already, since 2021, around 30,000 Kuki Chin refugees from Myanmar have sought shelter in Mizoram. They have been escaping the crackdown by the military junta in Myanmar.

What is the Govt of India and Mizoram Govt’s Stand?

The authorities are prepared to handle the inflow. India would be extending help and shelter to the refugees coming in from Bangladesh on humanitarian ground. A meeting of the Mizoram Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthanga on November 22, 2022, decided to provide temporary shelter, food and medicine to the refugees who have already crossed over.

The Inflow So far

Since November 20, 2022, a total of 293 Kuki Chins have entered Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district bordering Bangladesh. The first batch of 272 refugees came in on November 20 after the fighting intensified in Cheihkhiang between the joint forces of Bangladesh Army and Arakan Army (AA) and KNA.  On November 23, the Bangladesh Army attacked Baptlai, Sunsawng, Ruma and Theihkhiang villages. On November 26 night, 21 more Kuki Chins — 11 children and 10 adults reached Parva village in Lawngtlai district, about 21 km from the border.  All the 293 refugees have been given shelter in a school, a community hall, an Anganwadi centre and a sub-centre at Parva.

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