ACHR team to visit conflict ridden areas of Mizoram

The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) has decided to send a fact finding team to the communal valance affected areas of Mizoram and also meet all sections of people including those involved in relief and rehabilitation activities. The New Delhi based rights body has stated in a statement that it has accepted the offer of the Mizoram home minister Pu R. Lalzirliana to visit the State in a convenient time (preferably December 4 to 11).

In a recent press meet at in Aizawl, the minister welcome ACHR representatives to Mizoram and see the facts and ground realities by themselves. Mentionable that soon after the violent attacks on Bru minorities by the miscreants in the State, the ACHR director Suhas Chakma wrote to the Mizoram government. “We have welcome the gesture of the minister Lalzirliana. Undoubtedly it is a positive step,” said Suhas Chakma. He of course urged the State government to make ‘necessary arrangement for adequate safety and security for the fact finding team’.

The ACHR, in order to ensure absolute independence, impartiality and objectivity, has already constituted a five member team. Chaired by Miloon Kothari, former United Nations special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, the team also includes Suhas Chakma (ACHR), Dashalene Karbetang (Advocate and human rights activist of Meghalaya), Nava Thakuria (journalist of Assam) and Bamang Tago (chairman of Arunachal Citizens Rights).

“The investigation team has representation from most Northeastern States and headed by a former United Nations expert from India. The members are well known in the field of human rights both in the Northeast and the world,” stated in a release from the ACHR. It also added that the team would visit the affected areas and meet all sections of people including those involved in relief and rehabilitation, interview all the communities, representative of the civil society groups including the MZP and YMA and the officials of the government of Mizoram as well as those who recently fled to Tripura because of the conflict.