Sr. Prof. K. Yugindro Singh (Retd.)

INTRODUCTION

The said fake letter mentioned in the title of this article bears letter No. 31(68)/66-RH IV dated 30.1.1967(See Encl.-1) and it was purportedly issued by the Ministry of Rehabilitation being addressed to the Government of Manipur.  Para 3 of the said impugned fake letter dated 30.1.1967 laid down that Burma Repatriates would be provided housing loan up to Rs. 2 (two) lakhs per loanee for Every Year, in addition to business loan up to a maximum of Rs. 5,000/- per family. (Notably, Rs.2 lakh in 1967 is equivalent to approximately Rs.1.2 crore today based on cumulative inflation.)Thesaid provision in para 3 for housing loan up to Rs. 2 (two) lakhs per Loanee for Every Year contradicts completely the then existing norm of the Government of India according to which the maximum limit for housing loan was Rs. 2,250/- per family in Rural Areas and it was one- timevide Statement II of the “Note giving information required by Ministry of External Affairs regarding Burma Repatriates” circulated by the Ministry of Rehabilitation on 13.6.1968 (See Encl.-2).

Further, the spelling of the name of signatory officer is incorrect as it was typed as “R.S. Saksana” in lieu of the correct name “R.S. Saksena” which has been confirmed from the File notes of R.S. Saksena available with the Ministry of Rehabilitation e.g. page 16 of File No. 3(1)/65-RH IV (See Encl.-3). Moreover, vide letter No. 6/14/81—Desk V(B) dated 6.3.1982 (See Encl.-4), the Ministry of Rehabilitation stated categorically that the maximum limit mentioned in para 3 of the impugned fake letter dated 30.1.1967 was ‘obviously wrong’ and also that the relevant file of the Department was ‘not readily available’. However, in a File noting made by an official (S. Jayasankar) of the same Ministry on 1.3.1982 in para 3 at page number 4 under File No. 6/14/81-Desk V(BR) (See Encl.-5),reported that the relevant file i.e., 31(68)/66-RH IV was destroyed in 1974.

Furthermore, para 2 of the impugned letter No. 31(68)/66-RH IV dated 30.1.1967 gave the wrong impression that repatriates of Indian origin from Burma included persons who would come by overland route (by road) and also that the State Government could be guided by the report submitted by the Police Department. On the other hand, bonafide repatriates from Burma required that they should arrive in India either by sea or by air after obtaining an identity certificate issued by the Indian Embassy in Rangoon. As per the norms of the Government of India, bonafide repatriates from Burma were those who were holders of ‘Foreigners Registration Certificates in Burma’ or ‘Emergency Certificates issued to Burmese citizens of Indian origin’vide copy of the Secret letter No.S.3/2/64-Cons. Pt. III(a) dated 21.1.1966 issued by S. E. Joshi, First Secretary, Embassy of Burma, Rangoon (See Encl.-6).

Thus, in view of the above facts, it is established beyond any doubt that the impugned letter No. 31(68)/66-RH IV dated 30.1.1967 was a fake letter.

IMPACT AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAKE LETTER

Towards the end of 1967, an exodus of a very huge number of Kukis from Burma into Manipur took placeand Shri Baleswar Prasad, IAS, then Chief Commissioner, Manipur was taken by surprise. At that point of time, Manipur was under President’s Rule (25.10.1967 to 18.2.1968). The Chief Commissioner informed the matter immediately to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Vide his letter No. 37/7/67/-R dated 6.2.1968, the Chief Commissioner reported to the Centre that a total of 500 Kuki families consisting of approximately 2400 persons had crossed over from Burma into Manipur.

He suggested a loan scheme for settling of these persons on land @Rs 725/- per family.  In response to the Chief Commissioner’s letter dated 6.2.1968, the Ministry of Home Affairs approved an expenditure not exceeding Rs. 3,62,500/- for permanent rehabilitation of 500 Kuki families who had migrated from Burma to Manipur vide Ministry’s letter No. 14/45/67-HMT dated 20.3.1968 (See Encl.-7). Subsequently, S.C. Vaish, then Deputy Commissioner, Manipur District (Manipur was then a single district) took up the task of rehabilitation of the Burma Kuki refugees in Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Sadar Hillsand Ukhrul. 

In his letter No. B-R/67/DC/1314-6 dated 8.6.1968 (See Encl.-8)addressed to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ukhrul and the Sub-Divisional Officer, Tengnoupal, the Deputy Commissioner(S.C.Vaish) sought reports regarding re-settlement of Kuki refugees from Burma. Again, in another letter No. B-R/67/DC/1318 dated 8.6.1968(See Encl.-9) addressed to the Under Secretary (Settlement Branch), Government of Manipur, the Deputy Commissionerreported that he was not in a position to give comments regarding the legality of the entry of a large number of Kuki tribal refugees from Burma. 

Vide a letter dated 15.2.1973 (See Encl.-10), Henkosei Haokip, Chairman and Shochung Haokip, Secretary of the Burma Kuki Refugees’ Association, Manipur petitioned to the Relief and Rehabilitation Minister, Government of India stating that about 1500 Kuki families had been repatriated from Burma. They requested for special sanction of relief and rehabilitation financial assistance in favour of the Kuki refugees. S Hokhomang Haokip, then Industries Minister, Manipur pursued the petition of the Burma Kuki Refugees’ Association with the Ministry of Rehabilitation, ultimately leading to formulation of Revised Estimates, 1972-73 and Budget Estimates, 1973-74 in favour of the Kuki refugees for their rehabilitationin Manipur.

Again, citing the case of 1500 families of Kuki refugees from Burma who had crossed over to Manipur in the month of December, 1967, Paokai Haokip, then Member of Parliament pleaded to K. C. Pant, then State Minister of Home Affairs for extending maximum possible financial assistance in the form of business and agricultural loans vide letter dated 20.6.1973(See Encl.-11). Official records show that even in 1980’s, though they were not bonafide repatriates in terms of the standing norms of the Government of India, many families of Kuki refugees who had arrived in Manipur 1967, continued to obtain relief and rehabilitation assistance including business loan and housing loan in terms of several lakhs of Rupees from the fund of the Government of India, meant for bonafide repatriates.

THE KUKI REFUGEES FROM BURMA WERE NOT BONAFIDE REPATRIATES

Those Kuki refugees who landed in Manipur in 1967 were not bonafide Burmeserepatriates as testified by the fact that they did not possessany document related to repatriation including identity card, family card, emergency certificate.The File noting on page 10 under File No. 17(7)/88-BURMA DESK (See Encl.-12) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Internal Security Division) reported categorically that, as per a District Police report (vide Report No. SP-SPT/19/6/87(C) dated 5.9.1987 issued by Superintendent of Police, Senapati District, Manipur)(See Encl.-13), the Kuki Refugees of 1967 listed by the Burma Kui Refugees’ Association were not bonafide repatriates. Vide the file noting dated 4.6.1973 under File No. 11/30/71-HMT(NE) (See Encl.-14), R.C. Iyer, then Under Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs wrote categorically that “The individuals involved in the case were not repatriates, but were Kuki migrants of the doubtful nationality”. 

In addition,vide letter no. 6/14/81-Desk.V(B) dated 1.9.1982 (See Encl.-15), the Ministry of Supply and Rehabilitation (Department of Rehabilitation) wrote “A doubt, therefore, arose as to whether, the Kuki tribes who claim to be Indian nationals coming from Burma are really Indian nationals or Burmese crossed over to India with a view, not only to avail of the opportunities available in India but also to obtain the assistance that is given to the repatriates. It may be added that these persons are not in possession of any document about repatriation. Nor any identity card or family card or emergency certificate has been issued to them.”

Very surprisingly, all of the Kuki refugees were given ST certificate soon after their entry into Manipur thereby implying that they have become legal citizens of India.As per norms, Indian citizenship can be acquired only by those repatriates from Burma who hold Foreigners Registration Certificates in Burma, are given Emergency Certificates by the Indian Embassy in Rangoon and repatriated to India vide copy of the letter No. SI/431/1/66 dated 5.1.1966issued by Shri S. Verghese, Under Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs (See Encl.16).Granting of ST status blindly to the Kuki Refugees who are not qualified even to become bonafide repatriates isin total violation of the provisions of the Constitution of India and it makes the legal framework of India a great mockery.

WHO COULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAKE LETTER?

During those days(25.10.1967 to 18.2.1968) of the President’s Rule in Manipur, the Home Secretary to the Government of Manipur was ThangkhapaoKipgen, a Kuki supremacist who earlier founded the Kuki Inpi(as Founding President) and Kuki National Assembly (as Founding Secretary) in 1946, always longing for a larger confederation of Kuki-Chin tribes and Paokai Haokip, also a Kuki supremacist, who had similar aspiration as that of Mr. ThangkhopaoKipgen, was the Member of Parliament (1967-1977).

Thus, during those days of the President’s Rule, Manipur was virtually under the administrative grip of the two Kuki supremacists and most likely, just at the onset of the President’sRule in Manipur, they created ingeniously the impugned fake letter No. 31(68)/66-RH IV dated 30.1.1967 and managed to send it to the concerned authority of the Government of Manipur from Delhi in conspiracy with some officials in the Ministry of Rehabilitation. This scenario can provide the only explanation as why the relevant file i.e., 31(68)/66-RH IV was destroyed in 1974.  Most likely, Paokai Haokip, then MP took the lead roles to reach out to the Chin/Kuki kins residing in Burma and lured them to migrate with their families from Burma to Manipur, citing paras 2 and 3 of the said impugned letter dated 30.1.1967. 

KHANDAWMI OPERATION

A large number of Indian nationals who have been residing in Burma started returning to India since 1st June 1963 consequent upon nationalisation of trade and imposition of certain restrictions on foreigners by the Government of Burma under General Ne Winfollowing his 1962 military coup.As per the information furnished by the Ministry of External Affairs, the number of repatriates from Burma who arrived in India as on 13.7.1968 was 1,63,099 including 3 persons admitted to the camp in Manipur. As per official records, no distinct state campaign was directed by General Ne Win against the Chin/Kuki people in December 1967.

The prelude given by Kuki scholars and Politicians like Paolienlal Haokip, a sitting Kuki MLA in Manipur that a military action called” Khadawmi Operation” was carried out in the Kabaw valley in December 1967 in which villagers lacking National Identity Card (NIC) were served eviction notices requiring them to vacate their homes within 48 hours, is absolutely untenable being not supported by official records maintained by the Government of Burma.The story of Khadawmi Operation is a concocted piece of story first constructed by Paolienlal Haokip in 2002vide his commentarydated on 23.5.2002 published by Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) (See Encl.17).

OTHER FACTORS FOR MIGRATION OF THE KUKIS FROM BURMA TO MANIPUR

The Chin/Kuki people in Burma (now called Myanmar) and the Kuki communities in Manipur have shared common ancestry, languages, and family networks. The Chin/Kuki people have preference to live in India for better economic security, safety and easier living hood. Once such people get the opportunity to settle in Manipur, they can get easily the status of Scheduled Tribe under the patronage of Kuki chiefs and thus, they get protection under the Constitution of India.  Other factors for migration of the Chin/Kuki people from Myanmar to Manipur are political instability, civil conflict, and military rule in that country. For the Chins/Kukis of Burma, moving to Manipur means joining their kin communities who can offer refuge.

COCLUSION

Manufacturing of the impugned fake letter No. 31(68)/66-RH IV dated 30.1.1967 requires ingenious creativity and skills with administrative experiences.Obviously, it is a serious crime of highest order carried out by meticulously by a network comprising of Kuki bureaucrats, Kuki politicians and some officials in the Ministry of Rehabilitation. It should be looked upon as a sinister design of conspiracy of highest order to disturb the integrity of Manipur apart from being a serious criminal act of cheating against the State and Central Governments and the indigenous people of Manipur.

Since that impugned letter caused exodus of 1500 families of Kukis from Burma into Manipur in 1967 who have been provided permanent rehabilitation, the socio-economic and political implications rendered by the presence of these Kuki rehabilitees in Manipur are far reaching. The presence of the Kuki rehabilitees as full-fledged citizens of India has badly affected the share of political power and demographic structure in Manipur. It is a fit case for the State Government to institute a high-level probe into the Refugee Scam so that whosoever accountable for this crime be dealt with iron hand as per laws of the country and the wrongs done be rectified.

It may be added that the Kuki rehabilitees dominantly reside inSaitu (Kangpokpi district), Saikot (Churachandpur) and Kangpokpi.Paokai Haokip passed away on 6.6.2021. In the obituary message published in print and electronic media, the Kuki Inpi Manipur, its federal units and frontal organisations recounted Paokai Haokip, the first Kuki MP, as being instrumental in the creation of Assembly Constituencies of Saitu (Kangpokpidistrict) and Saikot (Churachandpur district) and Kangpokpi (See Encl.18).

Sr. Prof. K. Yugindro Singh (Retd.), Former Acting Vice Chancellor, Manipur University