Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday informed the state legislative assembly that some people including those from US and UK entered Myanmar via Mizoram and were engaged in arms training of the insurgent groups in the neighbouring country, of which one person was arrested for possession of live ammunition.
The chief minister was referring to Daniel Newey, UK national who was arrested with one live ammunition on June 19, 2024 at the lone Lengpui airport and was booked under the Arms Act, 1959. He said that some of those who entered Myanmar were earlier involved in Russian-Ukraine war.
Newey was, however, acquitted by the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) of Aizawl district during mid-February this year.
Replying to supplementary questions during question hour, Lalduhoma said that the central government re-imposed the protected area permit (PAP) in view of the prevailing situation in the Myanmar border states of the north east region. “Though our government opposed re-imposition of protected area regime (PAR), we cannot help but understand the concern of the central government,” he said.
He said that while nearly 2,000 foreigners visited Aizawl during June and December last year they are never seen in the streets attributing fears that their main intention might be to interfere in the internal affairs of Myanmar. The central government has been closely watching the situation in the border areas as geopolitics has become more important with involvement of China and the US in the conflicts in the region, he said, adding the recent one-day visit of Mizoram by the US Ambassador to India without any prior intimation also came as a surprise to the state government.
Ministry of home affairs (MHA) re-imposed the protected area regime (PAR) in Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram to monitor the movement of foreigners after it was initially relaxed for a year in 2010 in the three States bordering Myanmar and subsequently the duration of the order was extended for five years. The latest PAR order was issued on December 16, 2022 and was valid till December 2027 before it is revoked in December, 2024.
The relaxation has been withdrawn after 14 years by the MHA which wrote to the chief secretaries of the three states in December last year. From now on foreigners visiting the 3 north-eastern states again would have to seek prior permission and special permits from the government as used to be done before 2010 in accordance with the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.
The MHA said that it has reinstated PAP in Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram due to security concerns stemming from the influx of individuals from neighbouring countries. The move ensures that foreigners visiting these states must secure the necessary PAP under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.
Lalduhoma said that while the state government objected to lifting of free movement regime (FMR), the state government has been weighing the pros and cons of the decision. “We still want free movement of ethnic Mizos to and fro in both sides of the border,” he said.
Regarding refugees from Myanmar, he expressed opinion that many of them could have returned to their respective villages as peace has prevailed in large part of Chin state but many of them still chose to remain in Mizoram. He also expressed concern that many people in the state are disturbed by prevalence of illegal activities including murder and smuggling.
Replying to question from the leader of opposition Lalchhandama Ralte of the Mizo National front (MNF), Lalduhoma said his government vehemently opposed implementation of the uniform civil code (UCC). He expressed the hope that article 371G of the Constitution will prevent imposition of UCC in the state and appealed to all the political parties and civil societies to unite in opposing the implementation of the UCC in Mizoram.
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