“We ask for equal rights from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] as other refugees are being given,” said Chin Refugee Committee Delhi convener Rem Mavi on Friday.
The 25-year-old was speaking during a press conference at the Women’s Press Corps here. The event was organised to urge the UNHCR to “review and repeal its decision to cease international protection for Chin refugees”.
The community, mostly Christians, face religious persecution in Myanmar.
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The UNHCR recently decided to stop recognising the Chin community of Myanmar as refugees. It claimed the situation had normalised in Chin State, which borders Mizoram and Manipur, allowing the refugees to return.
The decision is expected to adversely affect an estimated 4,000 Chin people currently residing in Delhi as all refugee ID cards held by the community members here will become invalid by December 31, 2019.
The community fears that this will pave the way for its deportation to Myanmar.
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Having lived in Delhi for a decade now, Ms. Mavi explained that refugee ID cards only grant the community residency in Delhi and not the ability to work in the formal sector, apply for university seats or access healthcare.
‘Consultative process’
Another member of the community said: “We want a dignified and consultative process to facilitate our return to Chin State.”
The UNHCR’s decision has drawn criticism from many working closely with the community.
South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC) executive director Ravi Nair pointed out that the decision was taken without consulting leaders of the Chin community or organisations working closely with them, and without proper documented evidence about the current situation in Chin State, thereby violating international refugee law.
Mr. Nair added that the Indian government has not yet pressed for removal of the Chin people.
The press conference was jointly organised by SAHRDC, the South Asia Forum for Human Rights, the Chin Human Rights Organization and the Chin Refugee Committee Delhi.
On Tuesday, a delegation of Chin refugees had met UNHCR Chief of Mission in India Yasuko Shimizu in New Delhi.
They claimed their numerous pleas to review the UNHCR decision were yet to receive a response.