Safe passage to seven Myanmar citizens to UNHCR through Manipur High Court Order

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The High Court of Manipur on 3rd May ordered safe passage of seven Myanmar nationals who fled from their country to save their lives and to seek protection from UNHCR.

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After a military coup in Myanmar in February, 2021, the military junta banned Mizzima news and arrested several journalists. As a result the journalists fled their country along with their families. They entered India and took shelter at Moreh border in Tengnoupal district of Manipur.

Earlier in March Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the authorities and the Assam Rifles to check the inflow of illegal migrants from Myanmar due to military coup in North eastern region. Myanmar nationals fear that due to lack of appropriate travel papers they would be sent back to their country.

These nationals will be sent to seek protection from UNHCR. However India does not have clear refugee policy but it grants asylum to large number of refugees from nearby countries. Therefore court said that these seven nationals will be considered as asylum seekers rather than as migrants.

Although they have to face the charges cited under the provisions of Foreigners Act, 1946, the Foreigners Order, 1948 and the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939. It was further asserted by the Counsel that the Constitutional freedoms available under Article 19 are limited to citizens and these seven persons cannot affirm such freedoms under Articles 19(1)(d) and 19 (1)(e), with regard to moving freely or residing/settling in any part of the territory of India.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.

In 1954, UNHCR won the Nobel Peace Prize for its groundbreaking work in Europe.