Guwahati: Two civil society organisations of Myanmar have jointly written to the President and Prime Minister of India seeking urgent intervention in light of “escalating difficulties” faced by Hindus in the neighbouring country. Among their demands is reconsideration of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) rules to include Hindus from Myanmar.
Apart from President Droupadi Murmu, the two bodies—Myanmar Hindu Union (MHU) and India for Myanmar (IFM)—addressed the letter dated 22 August, 2024, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian ministries of External Affairs, Home and Defence. Founded in 2021 in the wake of the military coup, both organisations support the National Unity Government (NUG), a government in exile formed in opposition to the Myanmar military.
“…As the government of a nation that upholds the principles of human rights, religious freedom, and social justice, it is imperative that India takes a strong stand in addressing the grave challenges that the Hindu population in Myanmar continues to endure,” it read.
The two organisations requested the Indian government to “recognise the deep roots of Hindus in Myanmar,” and reconsider OCI policy for Hindus from Myanmar.
“As Hindus from Myanmar, we were born and bred in the country, but according to the Myanmar 1982 Citizenship Law, we are made to feel like aliens and second-class citizens. Furthermore, India’s OCI policy does not allow Hindus from Myanmar to become OCI holders. We urge the Indian government to reassess the OCI policy and include Hindus from Myanmar as eligible for this status, recognizing our historical and cultural connections to India,” read the letter.
Hindus comprise less than 5 percent of the population in Myanmar, MHU chairperson Min Hein told ThePrint, adding that Tamils make up the biggest chunk of the Hindu population in Myanmar, which also comprises Gujaratis, Punjabis, Bengalis, Odias, Marwaris and the Gurkha community.
The Hindu population is distributed across the country, with sizable presence in Bago region (formerly Pegu division), Mon State, Kayin State (formerly Karen State) and Yangon.
Min Hein said the MHU would like the Indian government to welcome and provide temporary shelter to Hindus who fled Myanmar—for “fear of joining military service”. He added that the State Administration Council (SAC) or military government in Myanmar is “trying to enforce a new law declaring mandatory military service for young people”.
“Youth are being pushed to join military service. In such times, many people including Hindus have escaped from Myanmar to safer places, especially Thailand and India. We would like the Indian government to welcome these people and give us shelter and food. It’s temporary, not long-term,” he said, adding they will return to Myanmar once ‘democracy returns’ to the country.
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‘Limitations on freedom’
The letter also highlighted challenges in the form of “severe restrictions on freedom of movement, freedom of religion, difficulties in obtaining planning permissions for temples, loss of agricultural lands, the lengthy waiting period for obtaining settlement status despite being born in Myanmar, and the role of military support in perpetuating these injustices”.
“Hindus in Myanmar have long faced limitations on their freedom of movement, particularly in regions where ethnic and religious minorities are systematically marginalised. The situation has only worsened over the past decades, as communal tensions and conflict have led to heightened scrutiny and restrictions,” the letter pointed out.
It goes on to elaborate on how Hindu families often confined to specific areas in Myanmar are “unable to travel freely for work, education, or religious purposes”. Further, stressing the right to freely practise one’s religion, the letter mentioned that Hindus in Myanmar have been deprived and made to face hurdles in the exercise of their fundamental rights.
“The rise of religious nationalism has fostered an environment where Hindu communities are increasingly viewed with suspicion and hostility. Instances of religious discrimination, including the use of Buddha statues during Hindu religious festivals to prevent distractions, bribery of local authorities to permit religious gatherings, and the desecration of temples, have become alarmingly frequent,” the organisations alleged in their letter.
Hein identified the Pelikhat (Pilikan) temple in Yangon Region and the Kyauk Ta Lon temple in Mon State—both dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Tamil God of war and victory—as the two main temples for Hindus in Myanmar. “It is very hard to get permission for temple planning, to build or renovate temples, unless we bribe the authorities,” he said.
‘Reassess engagement with junta’
The letter stated that policies of the military government in Myanmar, “both explicit and tacit,” have further exacerbated issues for Hindus in the country.
“Hindu religious leaders often find themselves under surveillance, while devotees face intimidation and violence during festivals and other religious observances. The lack of government protection and accountability has emboldened perpetrators of these hate crimes, leaving Hindu communities vulnerable,” it adds.
Calling for “immediate attention” to the plight of the Hindus, the organisations stressed the need for India to practise stricter diplomatic relations with Myanmar’s military government.
“Stronger and friendlier diplomatic relations with the current Myanmar regime will likely have more negative than positive consequences for India. The Indian government should consider tightening diplomatic relations, and reducing support for the military government until there are significant improvements in human rights and democratic practices in Myanmar,” the letter stated.
It goes on to add that “any military support, whether through direct aid, arms sales, or strategic partnerships, should be carefully considered”.
The organisations also called for India’s intervention in “reducing the settlement process timeline for Hindus born in Myanmar”. Through discussions with the Myanmar government, the government of India can help ensure that Hindus born in Myanmar can obtain citizenship and related rights without undue delay, the letter suggested.
The two Myanmar organisations also appealed for a “halt to the use of Rupee and Myanmar Kyats in trade”. Currently, at the rate of 25 kyat per rupee set by the Myanmar military regime, Rs 10 crore is equivalent to 25 crore kyat.
In July, the media in Myanmar reported that the military government controlled embassy in New Delhi has authorised a new method for traders to exchange kyat directly for rupees in transactions with their Indian counterparts, and to facilitate bilateral trade and address challenges arising from insufficient American Dollar reserves.
According to the embassy’s statement, the Punjab National Bank in Yangon, which has the military’s approval for direct payments in Myanmar, had cleared transactions for more than Rs 10 crore worth of pulse exports to India using the mechanism.
Another key issue was protection of refugees and prevention of wrongful repatriations.
“…the military coup in Myanmar has led to the displacement of many refugees, some of whom have sought safety in India. It is crucial that India continues to provide refuge to these individuals and ensure that those wrongfully arrested by Indian authorities are not repatriated to Myanmar, where they face the risk of torture, forced labour, or being used as human shields”.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)