Ongoing Deportation of Myanmar Refugees from Northeast India Raises Concerns

Thousands of Myanmar refugees who fled the civil war in their home country are now facing deportation from the Indian state of Manipur, RFA reported today.

According to the source, Manipur’s Chief Minister, Nongthombam Biren Singh, announced that the deportation of nearly 5,500 “illegal immigrants” is underway, though he did not specifically mention the Myanmar refugees.

This contradicts earlier statements by the Indian government that they would not repatriate the refugees until the situation in Myanmar stabilizes.

India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, which prohibits the return of refugees to countries where they face serious threats.

The deportation has raised concerns among human rights groups about the wellbeing of the vulnerable civilians seeking shelter from the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.