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Lalthanhawla warns RSS of provoking Reangs against Mizos

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla has cautioned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to refrain from instigating the Reang community in his state against the government.

''If they (the RSS) want to destabilise the most peaceful state in the North-East region, it will prove costly,'' he told newsmen in New Delhi.

Lalthanhawla was reacting to the strongly-worded resolution adopted at the RSS conclave which concluded at Bangalore recently.

He claimed that the recent upsurge within the Reangs was the handiwork of the RSS. ''There had been no repercussions against them by the Mizos nor was any one forcibly converted into Christianity,'' the chief minister asserted.

Attacking the RSS, he said, ''Lack of knowledge about their own country is very disturbing to us.'' He pointed out that way back in 1965, foreign missionaries had left Mizoram following a central directive.

Therefore, there is no question of their role in the alleged conversions, he said.

The chief minister said he was willing to set up a development council for the 80,000 Reang population, but ruled out any further division of Mizoram. ''I cannot agree to an autonomous district within the state for Reangs,'' he declared.

Giving a detailed account about the origin of the Reang trouble, Lalthanhawla said the community members are nomadic agriculturists and practise shifting cultivation. Their social customs are akin to those of the Hindus. However, a large number of them had by now embraced Christianity, and many had joined the state government service.

Education appears to have created political awakening among them. And on June 15, 1990, the Reang Democratic Convention Party was formed. In July 1993, when the RDCP resolved to demand a separate autonomous district council for their community, a disturbing dimension was added to this political development.

The party ''established links with the National Liberation Front of Tripura, an extremist outfit.'' Simultaneously, separate students and welfare committee of the party were floated. In the first conference held in September last year, a resolution was adopted demanding creation of a separate autonomous district council for the Brus (Reangs) in Mizoram.

In October 1997, the Mizo Zirla Pawl sharply reacted to this demand from the Reangs. The chief minister explained that there was, however, ''no threat or any kind of pressure.''

However, for reasons best known to them, some members of the Reang community ''spread words of panic.'' In fact, before the MZP expressed its reaction, some Reang families prepared to migrate by disposing of their properties. Between October 15 and 21, 1997, a total of 154 Reang families had migrated to Tripura ''despite the persuasion of and assurance given by the local village leaders.''

''It was later confirmed that certain prominent Reang leaders went from village to village threatening their own community members to leave Mizoram. Incidentally, during that period, a militant body of Reangs, the Bru National Liberation Front was born," the chief minister pointed out.

The BNLF has a strength of 100 and its boys are trained in Bangladesh, Lalthanhawla said, and added that now they possess sophisticated arms and have established contacts with the NLFT and the ULFA.

It was ascertained that in October last, members of the BNLF visited some Reang villages in Aizawl district and ''threatened'' them to leave Mizoram immediately, stating that they were going to attack the Mizoram police force.

The immediate cause of trouble was that on October 21 last year, BNLF members shot dead a wildlife game watcher of the Mizoram government, near Persang village and escaped with one .22 rifle and one wireless set. Two Reang muster roll labourers, accompanying the game watcher, were abducted.

An agitated Mizo group that assembled at the spot to take over the body burnt down 185 houses belonging to Reangs. The Mizoram police swung into action and arrested 35 alleged miscreants and registered nine criminal cases.

Apprehending reprisals from the Mizos, more than 770 Reang families migrated to Tripura and Assam. The process continued although on a low key.

The chief minister said he has called a meeting of a delegation of Reangs at Aizawl on April 14 where a representative from the Union home ministry will also be present. He wanted to involve the home ministry in resolving this issue since it was a law and order question. He wanted to meet Prime Minister A B Vajpayee in this connection, but could not get an appointment, he said.

UNI

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