‘Prepare to face refugee crisis’

Atono Tsukru KOHIMA, MARCH 31 ‘The refugee crisis that the world is facing today is going to change history,’ said Dr Visier Sanyü Meyasetsu citing that people are moving in a space that we have not seen in the last 10,000 years. Speaking on ‘World Refugee Crisis: Challenges and Responsibilities’ at the 3rd Annual Lecture at Sazolie College, Jotsoma, Dr Visier referring to the present crisis and panic in Europe, noted it is all somewhat related to the refugee crisis. ‘Europe is going to face a crisis that it need to find a new ideology, a new theology and a new culture because that crisis is beyond their understanding and beyond what they have faced before’. Citing and making references to the refugees around the world, he informed that there are 59.5 million forcibly displaced people, 19.5 million refugees as classified by UN and 5.1 million Palestinian refugees wherein Australia is made up of 98% of immigrants and refugees. He also pointed out that Naga refugees are very few in numbers as compared with others, with few in US, Canada, Denmark and Thailand. Noting the huge contributions of the refugees to the world, he cited some examples pointing out that the rich people among the Australians are refugees and also how the Parsis of India, who are refugees from Iran, had contributed to the economy of India with their famous brand TATA. Modern India, he said is produced by refugees. He also cited some famous refugees who had contributed to the world like Dalai Lama, the most well known living refugee in the world who ran away from Tibet because of persecution by the Chinese, Einstein, Carl Marx and Jesus Christ himself who was a refugee in Egypt. Referring a Bible verses from Mathew 25: 35-36 and Leviticus 19: 33-34, Dr Visier said for us, as Christians, our responsibility towards refugees has been clearly commanded in the Bible that we look after them. Therefore, he said we should not oppress the refugees. ‘If you treat a person right, the world will be alright. If the person is not right then the world is having a crisis’ he added. Making a reference of the refugees living in our own state, Dr Sanyü said 250 Tibetans are living in Nagaland are classified as refugees by the United Nations, and who are mostly running their business in Dimapur and Kohima. However, he noted with regret that we, Naga people are so outdated in our knowledge that we treated them badly, while the whole world is caring for the Tibetan refugees because they have been pushed out of their homes. He, therefore strongly maintained that they need to be taken good care of by the people of Nagaland, adding that ‘if we treat these people badly our reputation will be very bad in the United Nations’. Clearly citing the difference between the Tibetan refugees and the Bangladeshis (miyas) in Nagaland, Dr Sanyü said the miyas are not refugees but illegal immigrants and economic immigrants who are running away from Bangladesh because of lack of job. Citing human greed, selfish nature and foolishness as the cause of the crisis around the world, Dr Sanyü cautioned that our responsibility is to be prepared as to how face the crisis as and when anything happens in China or Burma and the refugees arrives at our door. Also noting with concern the influx of illegal immigrants in the state, Dr Sanyü candidly pointed out ‘Nagas laziness’ as the cause of the problem. He further stated that our laziness is a threat and danger to us. Because the world population is moving to and fro, Dr Sanyü maintained that we cannot truly stop it, and as such, there is no way we can stop people from coming to Nagaland. Therefore, what is most important is to prepare oneself on how to face and how to go about it, said Dr Sanyü. Clearing the doubts on a series of queries posed by the students, Dr Sanyü also explained on the importance of responsibility to follow and obey the rules and laws that are being defined by the United Nations in regard to respect the human rights of the refugees and ensures that it is not being violated. When asked by a participant on the contributions that can be made by the people and the state government, Dr Sanyü informed that there are many organizations through which one can be affiliated and work hand in hand for the refugees. However, he said Nagaland is absolutely zero in this regard and that the government has no understanding and is not interested. ‘All they are interested is in how much money we can get from India. One single interest of the government is to get more and more money’. Therefore, he said unless the young people work very hard there will be a series of problems, and has urged the students to be alert, aware, vigilant and mindful stating that the crisis is in our heart and it concerns all of us.