What is Quadripartite Bru Settlement Agreement?

Leaders of the Mizoram Bru refugees have demanded execution of the quadripartite agreement signed in New Delhi in January 2020. The agreement is related to permanent rehabilitation of Brus in Tripura.

What is quadripartite agreement?

An agreement was signed between Union Government, State Government of Mizoram, State Government of Tripura and representatives of “Bru” organisations at Delhi in January 2020. This is called the Quadripartite Bru Settlement Agreement. The agreement allows 35,000 Bru Tribal people to settle permanently in Tripura. According to the agreement,

• The Central government will provide help to these tribes for their all-round development.
• These tribes would get all the rights like that of normal residents of the State.
• For 2 years, they will be given the aid of Rs 5000 per month and free ration.
• Under this agreement, the Tripura Government would make available the land.

Background

• In Mizoram, Bru tribes have been targeted by groups that do not regard them as indigenous to the state.
• In 1997, following ethnic conflicts, nearly 37,000 Brus fled Mamit, Kolasib and Lunglei districts of Mizoram and were provided lodgings in relief camps in Tripura.
• Since then, 5,000 have come back to Mizoram in eight phases of repatriation, while 32,000 still live in six relief camps in North Tripura.

Issues with the agreement

Some locals of Tripura are opposing the agreement. Hence, the decision can be considered as humanitarian from the point of view of the Brus, but it could lead to conflicts with the locals of Tripura.

Efforts made by the government to repatriate Brus

In June 2018, representatives of the Bru signed an agreement with the Central government and the two state governments, providing for repatriation in Mizoram. But most camp residents repudiated the terms of the agreement. The camp residents cited that the agreement doesn’t guarantee their safety in Mizoram.

About Bru Tribes

“Bru” Tribes, who are also called as “Reangs”, are living across Mizoram, Tripura and Assam. They are ethnically different from the Mizos and have their own distinct language and dialect. Hence, they are one among the 21 Scheduled Tribes in Tripura. They speak the Kokborok language which is of Tibeto-Burmese origin. The language is referred to as Kau Bru.