The deadlock in the negotiations between the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) and the Mizoram government on 17 October 2002, after the seventh round of talks, was not unexpected. Since the talks began in 1998, the BNLF was forced to dilute its demands by the State government. However, the uncompromising stand of the State government has derailed the talks over repatriation of the 32,000 Bru refugees, thereby ensuring their continuing in the refugee camps in North Tripura. 

  Brus, known as Tuikuk to traditional Mizos, had their settlements in the valleys of the Lengai and Teirei rivers in Aizwal district and Karnafuli in Lunglei and Chhimtuipui districts. Their population was negligible till 1961, but there was a sharp increase after 1971, largely due to large-scale migration from Tripura. A bitter ethnic feud with the Mizos in 1997 led the Bru (also known as Reangs) refugees to six refugee camps in North Tripura district. As the Mizoram government dithered over their repatriation, the desperation among the Brus took the form of militancy, leading to birth of the BNLF.

  The central issue in contention is that of disarming the BNLF, which the Mizoram government insists must take place before repatriation begins. The government is afraid of importing insurgency into the State if repatriation precedes disarming, and this concern is indeed genuine. BNLF have indulged in multiple acts of insurgency over the years, though the number of fatalities remained low.

  Since 1996, there have been 23 insurgency related deaths in Mizoram.  On 30 June 2000, seven members of the elite, anti- terrorist Hunter Force of the Mizoram police were killed and four injured in an ambush laid by the BNLF militants along the Indo-Bangladesh border. The BNLF is known to have its camps in Bangladesh as well as Tripura. It maintains links with outfits like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT). Thus, to assume that its capability to instigate trouble stands dented would be foolhardy. 

  The Mizoram Government’s attempt to wear out the BNLF by engagement in a protracted dialogue process bore fruit for some time. In 1998, when the negotiations began, the BNLF was demanding an autonomous regional council. This demand was reduced to an autonomous district council and then to a developmental council. The Government hoped for a further climb down, which did not occur.

  Following the breakdown in talks, a BNLF leader was quoted as saying, “How can we face our people without the creation of at least a development council comprising the Bru-inhabited areas of the north-western Mizoram?” Failure to accomplish what it thought was achievable has become an issue of its credibility. In fact, the outfit faces the danger of being overwhelmed by the more radical Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM).

  Protests have already been voiced over the BNLF’s capability to achieve any thing for the refugees, and its monopoly over their fate is being questioned by the refugees. During the recent visit of a representative of the Union Home Ministry, some refugee leaders maintained that the militant organisation did not represent them. Instead, they submitted a memorandum demanding a separate autonomous body under the sixth schedule of the Constitution.

  It would be interesting to note the response of the Mizoram government after the refusal of the BNLF to continue talks. As the Union government mounts pressures for the initiation of the repatriation process, the government may actually dilute its stand. In fact, it has sought a grant of Rs. 25 crores from the Union government to resettle the Brus. This money would be used for special developmental projects in areas where the Brus would be resettled.

  A similar dilemma would confront the BNLF also. It would be difficult for it to abrogate the four-year-negotiation process and resume full-scale insurgency. The success of insurgencies in the region, with the exception of the MNF (Mizo National Front), is abysmally poor. That might force the outfit to continue the dialogue process.

  However, till one of these two sides decides to compromise, the refugees in the camps would continue to suffer. The six refugee camps where they are settled are pictures of official neglect. The Annual Report of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs 2000-01 claims to have disbursed Rs. 24.75 crores, but a number of child deaths have been reported from the camps. Poverty and lack of administrative concern has resulted in great human suffering in the camps.