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Myanmarese face starvation in refugee camp

IMPHAL: Myanmarese nationals who have been taking shelter in a refugee camp in Manipur after the August 8, 1988 uprising (popularly known as “8.8.88”) face starvation as food supplies have stopped.

The State government has not cleared food bills amounting to more than Rs.8 lakh.

During the upheaval, hundreds of pro-democracy activists and students fled to Manipur. On the instruction of the Central government, a refugee camp was set up at Moreh, the border town. But the Myanmarese military personnel used to sneak into Moreh and mingle with the traders. They began to threaten the refugees to return, saying if they refused their family members would face the consequences.

Fearing a commando-style attack and abduction, the camp was shifted inside the Chandel district near the 8 Manipur Rifles camp at Leikhun. There are now just 47 refugees. Alongwith food, which they say is inadequate, a refugee gets Rs.2,000 a month for other expenses and Rs.5 a day pocket money; earlier it was just Rs.3.

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