Rohingya and Chin refugees from Myanmar, currently detained at a transit camp in Goalpara, Assam, have launched a hunger strike to protest their indefinite detention. According to local officials, the hunger strike began on Monday evening, with refugees demanding their release and handover to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in New Delhi. The protesters, who include women and children, claim that despite being held for months, no steps have been taken to resolve their situation.
Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewary said that senior officials, including the Inspector General of Prisons and the Home Secretary, were dispatched to the camp to discuss the grievances of the refugees. “We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon,” Tewary added, while noting that Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been briefed on the situation.
Rohingya and Chin Refugees Demand UNHCR Intervention
The detainees, who include 103 refugees from Myanmar’s Rohingya and Chin ethnic groups, have demanded to be handed over to the UNHCR for resettlement. According to Sabber Kyaw Min, Director of the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, 40 of the inmates hold refugee cards issued by the UNHCR, but despite this, they remain in detention.
“The refugees fled their homes and their country to seek refuge in India, only to be locked up indefinitely,” Min said, calling on the authorities to recognize their need for asylum and provide them the opportunity to live with dignity. The refugees argue that the Indian government should transfer them to a detention center in New Delhi, where the UNHCR can process their resettlement to a third country.
Goalpara Detention Camp Holds Refugees in Legal Limbo
The Matia detention center in Goalpara, where the refugees are currently housed, is the largest such facility in India. It was inaugurated in January 2023, amid a nationwide debate on how to handle refugees and illegal immigrants. The camp detains those who have entered India without proper documentation, including refugees fleeing persecution from Myanmar.
India is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, which would provide a legal framework for the protection and resettlement of refugees. As a result, refugees like the Rohingya and Chin groups face prolonged detention without clear pathways to asylum or resettlement. Human rights groups have raised concerns about the indefinite nature of their detention and the absence of a clear legal process for their release.
Officials Assure Adequate Care, But Refugees Disagree
Despite the hunger strike, authorities in Assam maintain that they are following all legal protocols for the care of the Rohingya and Chin refugees. “The guidelines in the prison manual are being followed, and all necessary facilities, including adequate nutrition, are being provided to the inmates,” an official said. However, the refugees argue that their indefinite detention without hope of resolution is inhumane and unacceptable.
In July 2023, 35 of the Myanmar refugees at the Goalpara detention camp wrote to the district administration, requesting that they be transferred out of the detention facility. Their letter was forwarded to the state home department, but no further action has been taken to address their demands, leading to the escalation in protests.
Refugee Crisis Poses Ethical Challenges for India
India’s stance on the refugee crisis has been under international scrutiny, particularly in the context of its handling of the Rohingya population, who have fled Myanmar due to targeted ethnic violence and persecution. Although the UNHCR has provided refugee cards to many Rohingya, India has refrained from formal recognition, citing concerns over national security and illegal immigration.
The current hunger strike brings attention to the broader issue of refugee rights in India and the country’s non-signatory status to the UN Refugee Convention. Critics argue that India’s detention of refugees without a clear legal recourse violates international human rights norms and leaves vulnerable populations in a state of limbo.
Calls for Humanitarian Response and Policy Changes
Human rights activists are calling for a humanitarian response to the hunger strike, urging both the Assam government and the central administration to engage with the UNHCR and seek a resolution for the detained refugees. “These are people who have already suffered immensely due to persecution and conflict. Detaining them indefinitely in a foreign country only adds to their trauma,” said a local human rights advocate.
The demand for resettlement through the UNHCR has become a critical point for the refugees, who see no future in prolonged detention. Many of them have expressed their desire to be relocated to a third country where they can rebuild their lives free from fear and persecution.
Hope for Resolution Amid Uncertainty
As the hunger strike continues, the situation at the Goalpara detention center remains tense. While officials have expressed optimism about resolving the issue through dialogue, the future of the 103 refugees remains uncertain. Without formal refugee protection laws, India faces an ongoing challenge in addressing the legal and humanitarian needs of displaced populations.
The plight of the Rohingya and Chin refugees in Assam underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive refugee policy in India—one that ensures the protection of human rights while addressing security concerns. Whether the current hunger strike will prompt a meaningful response from the government remains to be seen, but for the refugees in Goalpara, time is running out.
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