Dr. Visier Sanyü Meyasetsu cites the foundation of human greed for the refugee crisis and cautions it would change history
Jotsoma, March 31 (MExN): The 3rd Annual Lecture 2016 organised by Sazolie College, Jotsoma was held on March 31 at the college auditorium with Dr. Visier Sanyü Meyasetsu speaking on the topic ‘World Refugee Crisis: Challenges and Responsibilities’.
The world refugee crisis, he stated, began with the “foundation of human greed,” and cautioned that this crisis would change history.
There are approximately 59.5 million people forcibly displaced in the world. This includes 19.5 million refugees, of which 5.1 million people are Palestinians.
The United Nation defines a refugee as a person who, “owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable to or owing to such fear is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
Dr Meyasetsu spoke about his experiences working for refugees, dating back to his Pre-University (PU) studies in Darjeeling, which was affected by Naxals, and when he volunteered in a refugee camp. He further spoke of his trip to the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand, and explained the lives of the 60,000 Burmese refugees sheltered inside the camp. Quoting from the Bible, Dr. Meyasetsu stated that as Christians it is every believer’s responsibility to be responsible towards refugees. In order to understand the refugee crisis, he stated one needs to understand the personal history of the victims and have a realistic approach towards their situation. He further opined that the best way to tackle the refugee crisis is through education.
Dr Meyasetsu further noted the large number of Tibetan refugees in Nagaland, and stressed on the importance of how the Naga people treat refugees in our homeland. He also differentiated between illegal immigrants and economic migrants from refugees.
He stated that while illegal immigrants/economic migrants leave their hometown for employment and other economic opportunities, refugees are compelled to leave their country due to persecution in their own land. During the Q&A session, Dr Meyasetsu highlighted homelessness, statelessness, financial crisis, depression and mental instability as the major issues faced by refugees.
The Naga people, he said, have also experienced internal displacement, during the years before the ceasefire. This was a time he stated when the Indian armed forces burned down several Naga villages, leaving the people homeless. On the issue of illegal immigration, Dr Meyasetsu said that while it is legal to send back illegal immigrants, he however cautioned that this must not be done by force. To tackle illegal immigration in the state, Dr Meyasetsu said the only solution is to tackle one’s own laziness. Nagas are a threat to themselves, he opined, and pointed to “laziness” as the main source.
He further lamented the Nagaland State Government’s inability to properly understand and tackle the issue of illegal immigration. For this to change, he advised the students in the conference to work hard, be vigilant, alert and mindful.
