Interview: 'Myanmar Refugees Being Ill-Treated in Indian Jails Despite Serving Terms, Paying Fines'

New Delhi: Even as India is offering to play the role of a peace-maker in Myanmar, dozens of refugees from that strife-torn country are currently on a hunger strike in a jail in Manipur, complaining of ill treatment by the authorities, and demanding that they be not handed over to the military since they have fled only to escape its atrocities on common people.

More than three million Myanmarese nationals have so far fled to neighbouring countries to escape the ongoing armed conflict that has erupted between the Myanmar’s military Junta and the ethnic militias since last December. According to some estimates, as of April 2024, more than 88,000 homes including religious buildings have been burnt down in the conflict. Mass killings, bombings on civilian areas and food shortages have forced people to flee to safety. At least 70,000 people have sought refuge in India alone.

As per the advocacy group India for Myanmar, since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar which shares a one-km-long border with Manipur, the state police have arrested 211 people. Of them, 76 have been handed over to the military Junta. “Altogether, nearly 200 Myanmar refugees are currently kept in Manipur and Assam jails although they have served their jail term and paid the requited fines,” Salai Dokhar, founder of India for Myanmar, told The Wire.

In a telephonic interview, Dokhar said over 100 refugees have been on a hunger strike at the Imphal jail since June 17, demanding that they be released immediately since they have completed their jail terms and paid the fine too. While claiming that several of them have been forced to pay Rs 50,000 each as fine by the Manipur Police, the rights activist said they are facing scarcity of food and clean drinking water in the jail, which has forced them to drink water from the toilets. “Moreover, the detainees are allowed to take a shower only once a week or once every two weeks and have reported being subjected to abuse by other Indian prisoners,” he said.

“The Manipur jail authorities are behaving like black marketeers, exploiting the refugees for money. They charge them even for phone calls to their families which are supposed to be officially allowed once a week,” he added.

Excerpts from the interview follow.

Let me begin by asking, what is the India for Myanmar movement that you are a part of?

The India for Myanmar movement is a free and independent grassroots advocacy initiative aimed at restoring democracy in Myanmar. It involves democracy and human rights activists, experts and members of various organisations from both Myanmar and India. It was launched on October 15, 2021. The main purpose is to raise awareness about the prevailing situation in Myanmar in India and to influence the Indian government’s stance on the Myanmar crisis. The movement engages Indian people, civil societies and political parties to advocate for India to support the democracy movement in Myanmar. After all, India is not just our neighbour but also the world’s largest democracy.

How many Myanmar refugees are there in Imphal jail currently? How many of them have completed their six-month jail term, paid their fines and are awaiting release?

According to our data, since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the Manipur Police have arrested a total of 211 Myanmar refugees. Among them, 76 have been handed over to the military Junta. Additionally, the Assam Police have arrested 27 Myanmar refugees, who are now detained in Assam. They were on their way to Delhi to apply for the UNHCR protection. Some of those arrested in Manipur were also on their way to Delhi to seek UNHCR protection.

Altogether, nearly 200 Myanmar refugees are currently detained in Manipur and Assam in the so-called foreigners’ detention centres. All of them have completed their jail terms and paid their fines.

Unfortunately, dozens of Myanmar refugees in Manipur have paid a whopping Rs 50,000 each for their release but are still in jail. The Manipur jail authorities are behaving like black marketeers, exploiting the refugees for money. They charge them even for phone calls to their families which are supposed to be officially allowed once a week.

When did the hunger strike start? Is it continuing?

The hunger strike started on June 16, 2024, and is continuing. The protesters have changed their silent hunger strike to a vocal one, highlighting five key demands and I quote, ‘We are refugees; we want to be released from the jail here; we have families to take care of; send us to our families; and release us to safety.’

These demands emphasise on their immediate release and prevention of their forcible return to a country where they are fleeing its military which is killing civilians.

Can you give more details on why the detainees are on a hunger strike which has reached ten days today?

The detainees have completed their jail terms and also paid their fines but are still being kept under detention. This situation is unfair on them as they are fleeing a war and need to reunite with their families. They should be able to communicate freely, move to desired locations, ensure their children’s education, or work to earn a living. They have lost all their basic human rights.

In jail, they are facing numerous rights abuses; they are being allowed to bathe only once a week, or once every two weeks; being denied medical treatment except in emergencies; no access to clean drinking water. They are consuming unhealthy food, and facing abuse from other prisoners. Some need appendicitis surgery. One such detainee, 32-year-old Demkholum Guite, died in prison due to lack of access to medical treatment.

Newborns are denied vaccinations, and young people are not allowed to attend school. At least six women detainees have given birth in prison and their babies are not being allowed vaccination.The situation is akin to a death sentence because the detainees do not know when they will be released or how long their terrible conditions will continue. They have been legally cleared for release but are still being detained for political or other purposes, such as the Manipur chief minister using them almost as victims of the state’s internal conflict. They have nothing to do with the state’s internal conflict; they are fleeing danger in their country. That is why they have started the hunger strike, demanding their immediate release and protection from their military coup.

Which part of Myanmar are these refugees from? Why don’t they want to go back to Myanmar?

All the Myanmar refugee detainees are from the Chin, Sagaing and Magway regions which are not far from the border with India. They do not want to return to Myanmar unless it is through a safe process of their choosing, meaning, they are allowed to avoid  the areas under the military’s control. The primary reason is that some detainees may face torture, persecution, or even a death sentence at the hands of the military, especially if they had participated in civil society activities opposing the 2021 military coup. The military investigates the background of deported refugees, and opposition to the coup is considered a significant crime. Most refugees, therefore, don’t want to be  handed over to the military.

Are there some refugees who are escaping Myanmar because of the recent forced conscription by the Junta?

No, all the refugees had entered India before the forced conscription law was enacted. Most Myanmar refugees had entered India because they are from the conflict zones in Chin, Sagaing and Magway. Some detainees arrived before the coup and do not face the same risk of being handed over to the military as others. Such as those who were deported by the Manipur government on May 2, 2024, and June 11, 2024.

There are also some reports of police harassment on the detainees sitting on the hunger strike. Do you have any confirmation of this?

On the second day of the silent hunger strike, the Imphal jail authorities used sound bombs and rubber bullets to disperse the strikers. They also used real guns to threaten them; real bullets were seen in the hunger strike area.

There was also a hunger strike by Myanmar refugees in the Imphal jail in 2023, but they were still deported. Do you see any hope in such strikes?

Yes, the first hunger strike started by a women’s group on December 16, 2023, was broken up by harassment; women detainees faced harassment by the male police. That hunger strike was later joined by a male group of refugees but they ceased it because the jail authorities promised to release all the detainees as soon as possible and also allowed them to make phone calls to their families. Gradually though, the authorities began charging Rs 200 for a five-minute phone call to their families. This is the reason the current hunger strikers would not like to trust the jail authorities’ promises any more and plan to continue the strike until they are released.

Do you want to make any appeal to the Manipur and Indian governments on the matter?

The current situation in Myanmar is not merely an internal conflict; it is a struggle between the democracy movement and dictatorship. Dictatorial governments are united in supporting the military coup in Myanmar while democratic countries are ignoring the crisis. This is especially painful considering India’s status as the world’s largest democracy. A successful democracy movement in Myanmar will greatly benefit India. If India aspires to be a leading global power, it cannot ignore its neighbouring countries. Otherwise, it may face issues similar to those in the Maldives. We are deeply concerned about both ourselves and India, as all neighbouring countries are falling under China’s influence. We want to prevent this in Myanmar. So, we urge India to focus on the Myanmar issue because our success is also India’s regional success.