Mizoram (Insurgency North East): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2019

Mizoram Chief Minister (CM) Zoramthanga on January 7 said the state government is strongly against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and extended support to the region wide shutdown, reports The Telegraph. He stated that ‘We extend support to Northeast Students Organisation (NESO) and its members including the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) for calling a 12-hour strike in the Northeast on Tuesday to protest against the Centre decision to get the bill passed in Parliament.’ Addressing an inaugural programme of the party office, he stated that the CM stated that MNF had been opposing the bill from the very beginning. He said the bill is an attempt to make illegal migrants eligible for Indian citizenship on the basis of religion. The Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizoram’s largest civil society organisation, also extended support to the MZP on the statewide total shutdown. Read less...

Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana on January 9 stated that the new Government would prioritise security enhancement at the border areas, reports Morung Express. In a meeting he stated that ‘Border security would be one of the top agendas of the Mizo National Front (MNF) government, while necessary efforts would also be made to control crimes in the state’. The land-locked state shares 722-km-long border with Myanmar and Bangladesh. Read less...

Officials stated on January 15 that foodgrain and other relief supplies for the Reang tribals sheltered in Tripura for over 21 years, have been extended for another two-and-a-half- months , reports Nagaland Post. Kanchanpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Abeda Nanda Baidya stated that ‘Home Ministry has extended the deadline for repatriation of tribal refugees from Tripura to Mizoram till March 31. The assistance to the refugees in the form of foodgrain and cash doles will also be continued till March 31’.Over 35,000 Reang tribals, comprising 5,907 families, fled from Mizoram and have been staying in seven relief camps in northern Tripura’s Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub-divisions. Read less...

Umbrella organisation of the 35,000 odd Bru refugees living in Tripura on January 15 appealed to new Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga to take initiative for solving the 22-year-old problem of the displaced people, reports Assam Tribune on January 15. In a letter to Zoramthanga, Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) general secretary Bruno Msha asked the chief minister to give audience to the MBDPF leaders on the issue in Delhi or Aizawl. During the latest repatriation process between August 25 to September 25 last year, only 150 refugees of 42 families returned to Mizoram. Read less...

Government of India (GoI) on January 23 cleared amendment to Article 280 and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, reports Assam Tribune. The move envisages improving the financial resources and administrative powers of the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The amendment also paves the way for constitution of State Finance Commissions in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that a cabinet meeting approved the landmark amendment that will significantly increase financial resources and powers of the Autonomous Districts Councils in the four North-eastern states. The amendment proposes to rename the existing autonomous councils as Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC), Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC), Garo Hills Autonomous Territorial Council (GHATC), Khasi Hills Autonomous Territorial Council (KHATC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous Territorial Council (JHATC) and Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous Territorial Council (TTAATC) as the present jurisdiction of these councils extends to more than one District. The amendment also provides for transfer of additional 30 subjects, including public works department, forest, public health engineering, health and family welfare, urban development, and food and civil supply to KAATC and DHATC in Assam. The Union Minister also added that amendment will fulfil the commitments made under Memoranda of Settlement (MoS) signed by the Government of India, state governments of Assam and Meghalaya, United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) and A’chik National Volunteers’ Council (ANVC). Read less...

Mizoram’s NGO Coordination Committee, an umbrella organisation of civil societies and students’ bodies, has called for a boycott of the Republic Day celebrations in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), reports The Shillong Times on January 23. In a press statement issued by Chairman Vanlalruata it stated that ‘The bill necessitates stronger protest’. The press statement also added that All Government employees, students and general public would stay away from functions organised on Republic Day on January 26. Earlier, on January 23, at least 30,000 people had taken part in protests across the State against the Amendment Bill, reports Indian Express. Read less...

Thousands of people, including students, protested across different places in Mizoram against Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), reports Morung Express on January 23. The agitators demanded the resignation of Prime Minister (PM) and Home Minster alleging that the bill will endanger the existence of the Mizos. The rally was organised by the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP, Mizo Students' Association), a powerful student body, which had also organised an 11-hour, State-wide bandh (general shutdown strike) on January 8. MZP president said if the bill is passed, it would lead to the “total alienation of the Mizo people”. Protests were held in seven District Head Quarters and 50 other places. Read less...