‘The Indian authorities’ forced return of 77 Myanmar refugees violates the principle of non-refoulment, and any further plans to forcibly return more Myanmar refugees must be immediately halted,’ said International Committee of Jurists.
New Delhi: Barely a week after Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh had announced on X (formerly Twitter) that his government had “completed the first phase of deportation” of 77 refugees who had entered the northeastern state from Myanmar, the International Committee of Jurists (ICJ) has urged India to “immediately halt” their “forced returns” to the strife-torn country and “respect the non-refoulment principle”.
In a press note on May 10, the Geneva-based human rights organisation that works for developing international rights standards through the law, said, “The Indian authorities’ forced return of 77 Myanmar refugees violates the principle of non-refoulment, and any further plans to forcibly return more Myanmar refugees must be immediately halted.”
The organisation that comprises of eminent judges, lawyers and academics, said, “The Indian authorities must immediately halt all further forcible returns of Myanmar refugees from Manipur and should instead offer protection and support to those seeking safety from serious harm, in line with the non-refoulment principle and India’s other obligations under international human rights law. The incitement of discrimination, hostility or violence against Myanmar refugees in relation to the ongoing violence must also be stopped and prohibited.”
It said deportation would “expose them to a real risk of serious harm arising from the escalating conflict between Myanmar military junta and resistance groups.”
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
