NHRC notices to Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Chennai Police Commissioner over allegations of harassment of refugees from Myanmar (07.9.2015)
PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi, 7th September, 2015
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report about alleged harassment of refugees from Myanmar in Chennai and issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Commissioner of police, Chennai calling for reports within four weeks.
Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Member, NHRC has observed that the contents of the newspaper clipping regarding the pathetic condition of the refugees including women and children, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights. He further observed "it appears that the refugees have been asked to move from one place to another, looking for shelter. They are made to wander on streets in utter disregard to their human rights. The State authorities have the duty to protect the human rights of the refugees and to provide shelter to them."
According to the media report, carried on the 4th September, 2015, about 57 refugees including women and children suddenly arrived at Thiruvalluar Street, Manali, Tamil Nadu on the 3rd September, 2015 with their belongings to stay there. The residents of the area made enquiries from the refugees. As the residents could not understand their language, they reported to the local police.
On the basis of the said information, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (South), and the Revenue Divisional Officer visited the area and made enquiries from the refugees. They informed that they are from Myanmar and they came to Chennai during the year 2012 and stayed at Kelampakkam, Chennai. The owner of the land in which they stayed, asked them to vacate and therefore, one Kabir Bai brought them to Manali to settle them. Accordingly, all of them were accommodated in one room.
On hearing their statements, the people of the locality opposed their staying in Manali. Due to the opposition from people of the locality, the local police asked them to vacate. Hence, they moved away from Manali to Mannadi.
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New Delhi, 7th September, 2015
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report about alleged harassment of refugees from Myanmar in Chennai and issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Commissioner of police, Chennai calling for reports within four weeks.
Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Member, NHRC has observed that the contents of the newspaper clipping regarding the pathetic condition of the refugees including women and children, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights. He further observed "it appears that the refugees have been asked to move from one place to another, looking for shelter. They are made to wander on streets in utter disregard to their human rights. The State authorities have the duty to protect the human rights of the refugees and to provide shelter to them."
According to the media report, carried on the 4th September, 2015, about 57 refugees including women and children suddenly arrived at Thiruvalluar Street, Manali, Tamil Nadu on the 3rd September, 2015 with their belongings to stay there. The residents of the area made enquiries from the refugees. As the residents could not understand their language, they reported to the local police.
On the basis of the said information, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (South), and the Revenue Divisional Officer visited the area and made enquiries from the refugees. They informed that they are from Myanmar and they came to Chennai during the year 2012 and stayed at Kelampakkam, Chennai. The owner of the land in which they stayed, asked them to vacate and therefore, one Kabir Bai brought them to Manali to settle them. Accordingly, all of them were accommodated in one room.
On hearing their statements, the people of the locality opposed their staying in Manali. Due to the opposition from people of the locality, the local police asked them to vacate. Hence, they moved away from Manali to Mannadi.
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