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Uneasy calm in Mizoram
The Hindu, Wednesday, June 2,1999
By Our Staff  Reporter

New Delhi, June 1. Peace and stability in North-eastern state of Mizoram
might be disturbed in the next a few years, if stepts are not taken to
check large-scale infiltration from Myanmar and Bangladesh, participant of
a seminar on Mizoram said here today.

"If these infiltrations remain unchecked, the fragile peace of Mizoram will
be shattered," general secretary of the non-governmental Central Young Mizo
Association at the seminar on "Mizoram towards Peace and Stability."

The seminar was organised by the Indian Council for Gandhian Studies and
the Central Young Mizo Association. The Association, founded in 1935, is
said to be the largest Mizo organisations with branches in almost every
locality of the stats and other north -eastern states with Mizo population.

Although no estimates of the number of infiltrators in Mizoram are aviable,
their presence id sizable and increasing, said Mr.Ngente. For example, at
least two of the State Assembly constituencies are dominated by Chakmas
from Bangladesh and more than 60 percent of the taxi drivers in the state
capital Aizawl are from Mynmar, he said.

"The 630-km-long international boundary in the state does not have a single
check post," said Mr.ngente, adding that people from these countries could
enter Mizoram freely. He claimed that in recent past there had been
increasing instances of aliens attacking Mizos.

Besides infiltration, Mizoram was also emerging as a transit point of drug
trafficking and arms supply to the other parts of the north -east, he said.

The Government was all aware of these developments but not action had been
taken, Mr. Ngente alleged. "The state Government is not really capable of
tackling the situation."

The people of Mizoram do want to revert to an era of conflict and
insurgency but if force upon "it will be much more dangerous than what the
country had witnessed earlier", he said.

The education level in the State had risen dramatically and people were
connected with Internet, he noted.

According to latest National Sample Survey results, Mizoram with a literacy
rate of 95 per cent has became India's most literate State surpassing  Kerala.

Participating in the seminar, the Gandhi Smiriti director, Dr.N.
Radhakrishnan, said the Government had "failed miserably" in curtailing

infiltration into the State.

Dr. Randhakrishnan, who recently return from Mizoram after week long visit,
said: "I could see two major concerns among the people of Mizoram during my
trips: increasing prospects of unemployment and tremendous infiltration
from Muyanmar and Bangladesh."

The Government immediately introduced an immigration system and those who
have entered illegally should be sent back, Dr. Randhakrishnan demand.
Besides, steps must be taken to create more jobs in the State, he added.

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