Aizawl: Salai Lian Luai, the Chief Minister of Myanmar's Chin state has taken refuge in Mizoram following the military coup in the country. The state home department of Mizoram said that Lian Luai crossed over to India on Monday night via Champai, a border town.
Salai Lian Luai was appointed to the post of Chief Minister in 2015.
Since the military coup in February 2021, about 9,247 Myanmar nationals have sought shelter in Mizoram. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that his state government has sanctioned money to provide relief to those who sought shelter.
The refugees include 23 lawmakers from the National League for Democracy (NLD), the former State Counsellor, and Foreign Affairs Minister Aung San Suu Kyi's party. The party was democratically elected to govern the country, and the military has forcefully taken the reign back.
The trial of Myanmar's elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi began on Monday in a closed courtroom. She has been in detention since the military seized power. She is being accused of breaking a natural disaster management law during the pandemic and communications law by illegally possessing walkie-talkies. The charges are being seen as attempts to nullify her landslide election victory in the November 2020 election.
Mizoram shares a 510 km western border with Myanmar. Six districts in Mizoram - Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial, and Saitual - are adjacent to western Myanmar. The 24 lawmakers have allegedly taken shelter in different border districts in Mizoram.
Data suggests that most Myanmar citizens are in Aizawl (1633) and Lawngtlai (1297). Sinha district and Hnahthial district have given asylum to 633 and 478 refugees. Serchhip district and Saitual district have taken in 143 and 112 people. In the other districts Kolasib and Khawzawl, there are 36 and 28 people.
Many NGOs, youth organisations, locals, and civil societies have volunteered to offer the refugees shelter and food.