CHIN REFUGEES IN INDIA COME UP AGAINST A HARD NUT TO CRACK

Salai Pautu

DELHINew Delhi: A considerable number of Chin refugees being recognised in 2008 and 2009 by New Delhi- UNHCR , come up against a major problem of registering themselves at a New Delhi branch of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office ( FRRO) , that is the government office which registers foreigners in India and applying for Residential Permits in order to stay in India.

India has not ratified either the 1951 Refugees Convention or the 1967 Refugees Protocol. India also does not have its own domestic refugee law... according to HUMAN RIGHT FEATURE.

 

By virtue of his\ her presence in India, every refugee is subject to Indian laws. He \ She should conduct himself \ herself accordingly at all times. As India has no refugee specific law, his \ her entry, stay and departure are regulated under the laws applying to all foreigners in India.One of his \ her primary duties under the laws is to register himself \ herself and his \ her family members at the Foreigners Regional Registeration Office and apply for a Residential Permit in order to stay in India. His \ her failure to do so may result in his \ her arrest, detention and possible deportation according to New Delhi- UNHCR.

 

What the 2008 and 2009 newly recognised Chin refugees being in course of applying for Residential Permits in order to stay in India, started to have been asked for cash payments on their previous presence ( while they were asylum seekers) in India by the FRRO officials is the major problem they encounter these days.

The FRRO officials said that to ask refugees in India for cash payments on their previous presenc in India is a rule. Then, they started doing so from the mid- year of 2008.

The cash payment on each refugee's previous presence in India being asked for is worked out at Rs. 25 each per day starting from his\ her arrival date to his\ her refugee recognition date in the New Delhi - UNHCR office. As a rule, New Delhi- based most Chin asylum seekers become recognised refugees after one year or more of registeration at the UNHCR office.For instance, if an asylum seeker and his\ her detofacto partner acquire their recognition refugees status one year of registeration at the office, they shall have to make paymants of Rs.16000-17000 to the FRRO officers so as to come by the Residential Permits issued by the FRRO office.

Around 1995's and 2005's were the years in which the FRRO officials felt sympathetic towards refugees in India ,so regestering refugees at the FRRO and applying for Residential Permits were somewhat easy just like a childplay according to a source.

However, since the mid - year of 2008, everything different that has come up to all newly recognised Chin refugees in India has brought them all dealing with this major problem. The Chin refugees, especially those who live from hand to mouth,have no approach neck and crop to this problem the FRRO officials created. According to sources, there is disagreement among the FRRO officials --- some of them do not wish to ask refugees for payments on their previous presence in India while others really do.

A Chin refugee family in New Delhi (Photo AFP)

Chin refugees while in the FRRO office faced up to harsh words spoken to them by one of the FRRO officers at the reception desk who asked them a question of what nationalities belong to them.When they replied, " Burmese", he just asked them whether they had brought the payments to be paid to him or not. They replied, " NO" , then he at once said to them, " Go home!" in an angry manner. The Chin refugees felt small confronting this unfriendly situation.

As a matter of concern, those Chin refugees without holding the Residential Permits Certificates have no legal right in India --- to remain in India as well as no Exit Permit---- to leave for any third country. Instead, the consequences of their lack of the Residential Permits Certificates can render them face the things thay fear most. Accordingly, they are all in need of the legal protection and the immediate action to be taken on their problem. No action has been effectively taken on their desperate problem so far.