Hundreds of Myanmar nationals in India gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 20 to mark World Refugee Day, demanding refugee rights. The protestors said they were protesting after officials in India failed to act on their demands after they discussed their rights with the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.
The Myanmar nationals in India sang the song “We are The World” during the protest demanding refugee rights from the UNHCR. “Today, despite the lack of work, food and other hardships, the main reason for the protest is that those who came to India after 2021 have not been recognized as refugees. That is why we are demanding that UNHCR recognize them as soon as possible,” said Ma Suu Htwe Aung, chairperson of the New Delhi-based Chin Refugee Committee (CRC).
The refugees who protested under the leadership of the Chin Refugee Committee (CRC) said that due to the delay and non-recognition in the refugee status process, they have not been provided with protection, care and assistance in security, health and education. Those who have been living for a long time and those who have difficulty settling in a third country have demanded that they be resettled, but no concessions have been made.
Every year, UNHCR in India and its partners, BOSCO and SLIC, invite international refugees, including Burmese refugees, to participate in the protest. The day was celebrated with a festive atmosphere, but this year, the CRC leaders said they were not accepting their offer and were holding a separate protest to demand their rights,
Many people from Chin State and other areas have fled to India due to the military’s violence since the coup. According to Indian government statistics, more than 30,000 Burmese have fled to India since the coup. Most of them live in Mizoram. However, in reality, there are more than 50,000 people who are working in India to help Myanmar. According to UNHCR data, if you include refugees and Rohingya before the coup, there were 83,000 Burmese in India.
About 300 Burmese people participated in the protest, and the Chin Refugee Committee (CRC) leaders and invitees called off the event after the protest. After the protest, the CRC leaders handed over an open letter to the UNHCR office detailing the refugees’ demands, CRC leaders said.
Hits: 0