Imphal: During the ongoing 55th UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Switzerland, Khuraijam Athouba, spokesperson of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), drew attention to the “alarming trend” of India’s northeastern states—Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram—being “utilized as conduits for illegal drugs and arms worth billions of dollars originating from Myanmar”, traversing the porous Indo-Myanmar borders.
Athouba said the fragile geo-political situation of India’s northeastern states, exacerbated by the influx of unaccounted-for illegal immigrants from Myanmar, stemming from the ongoing unrest in the region.
This influx has severely impacted inter-ethnic harmony, leading to a deterioration of human rights and peaceful coexistence among ethnic communities, he said.
The COCOMI representative said surge in cross-border movement has further destabilized the region, with a significant number of refugees engaging in illicit activities, including encroachment on reserved forest areas.
Recent years have seen a concerning increase in the confiscation of illegal drugs and arms, with an estimated value of 18 billion dollars seized in Manipur, 16 billion in Assam, and 1.6 million in Mizoram, all originating from Myanmar.
Additionally, the rampant opium/poppy cultivation in Manipur, particularly by immigrant groups, has reached unprecedented levels, resulting in the destruction of almost 18,000 acres of land, leading to extensive deforestation and threatening the survival of indigenous populations.
Home Minister has attributed the ongoing violence in the region to illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking from the border.
Khuraijam Athouba appealed to the UN council to convene relevant human rights forums and implement necessary mechanisms to safeguard fundamental human rights and ensure the security of indigenous peoples.
This includes strengthening cross-border cooperation to combat illicit drugs and arms trafficking, supporting sustainable livelihoods to discourage poppy cultivation, mitigating environmental degradation, and facilitating international cooperation to address the involvement of foreign terror networks in the region.
Khuraijam Athouba addressed the UNHRC session for the third time, which is scheduled to conclude on April 5, 2024.