In India, Myanmar refugees seek asylum in a home the British took away
- The Chin people of Myanmar are separated from their ethnic brethren the Mizos of India only by Britain’s colonial era border
- Fleeing the post-coup violence in Myanmar, many are returning to families across that border. Among them, police who refused to machine gun protesters

But on March 5, her journey was more convoluted. To stop Myanmar nationals like her from fleeing the country following the February 1 military coup and entering India, the Mizoram authorities have closed the checkpoints. A gate on the bridge that connects Champhai with Rih in Myanmar has also been locked.
Fortunately for Thanhawla and the 100 or so others who have crossed into India from Chin state in Myanmar, the border is long and porous.
“My husband and I had to walk through the woods and wade through the Tiau river to reach Champhai. We had to get away from the repression going on in my country and this was the obvious choice,” said Thanhawla, 34.

Initially, speaking on the phone through a Mizoram interpreter, she denied being a refugee, insisting she was simply visiting relatives. Only gradually did she admit that she had run away from Myanmar and had no plan to return.