NARRATIVE REPORT
Chinland Constitution Consultative Meetings
15-16 July 2006, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Introduction
With the generous financial support of the Euro-Burma Office, the Chin Community
Germany (CCG), in close co-orporation with the Chin Forum, managed to jointly organize Chinland Constitution Consultative Meetings on 15-16 July at Frankfurt am Main.
In addition to the Executive Committee of the CCG and its members there were eight members of the Chin Forum Managing Board from Germany, Thailand, United States, Sweden and India in attendance. Five persons from Germany, India, Canada and Japan participated as special invitees.
The event was mainly organized by the CCG as the local host while the Ottawa-based Chin Forum was mainly responsible in conducting the Meetings. All members of the CCG and selected members of the Burmese and other communities were invited to the meetings. Altogether there were around 100 attendees during the two days public consultative meetings.
The main discussions were aimed to gather comments and suggestions from Chin communities and other participants towards the development of the fifth draft of the Chinland Constitution. Apart from that the Chin Forum, along with other leading Chin activists, had the opportunity to address the exile Chin communities in Germany about Burma’s current political trend in general and in particular the Chin federal movement which is more visibly carried out in the form of drafting and public disussions of the Chinland Constitution. Moreover the detail episode of the emergence of the Ethnic Nationalities Council and the recent formation of the Chin National Council along with other Councils from different ethnic homelands was addressed by the Chin Forum for the general information of the public.
One of the most popular topics raised during the meetings concerns provisions regarding Chin citizenship in the draft Chinland Constitution. Concerns were raised regarding ways to protect the distinct Chin ethnic identity in the context of a multi-ethnic setting in a federal constitutional framework. All discussions and feedback were carefully recorded for reference and consideration in the development of future draft. Another interesting aspect of the meeting in Germany was that a “German Constitution Study Group,” of the CCG, gave a 30-minute presentation on important aspects of German federalism: federal-lander/state relations, division of powers in the federal institutions etc, issues that have close relavance to the Chinland Constitution.
Other events
Taking opportunity out of the on going formal Meetings, informal gatherings with the Chin community members were conducted in the evenings at private homes to exchange information on situations of refugees and political asylum seekers in Germany, Malaysia, US, Canada and Japan. Interest and wider awarness of the difficulties facing Chin refugees in different parts of the world was raised among the participants. Topics ranging from questions about specific provisions to general questions about the movement for democracy and federalism in Burma were also discussed during the informal gatherings outside the Consultative Meetings.
Conclusion
The Chinland Constitution Consultative Meetings at Frankfurt am Main , Germany was a great success. Most significantly, the Meetings promoted greater awareness about important political and constitutional issues, as well as update the public about its
undertakings and ongoing activities. Many participants also appreciated and were very satisfied to have the chance to hear in detail about the emergence of the ENC and CNC etc.
During the Consultative Meetings in Germany the following individuals from the Chin Forum, Chin Community Germany and other participants play vital roles by giving key note speeches, speeches on various topics and leading the discussions:-
Pu Lian Uk Chin Forum / Elected MP
Dr. Za Hlei Thang Chin Forum / Chin National League for Democracy/ Elected MP Pu Thomas Thang Nou Chin National Front
Pu Salai Ngun Cung Lian Chin Forum
Pi Cherry Za Hau Women League of Chinland
Pi Julia Mang Ngaih Hau Chin Women Organisation – Japan
Pu Nang Lian Thang Chin Forum / Chin National Community – Japan
Dr. Lian Sakhong Chin Forum / Chin National League for Democracy
Pu Salai Kipp Kho Lian Chin Forum / Chin Community Germany
Dr. Sui Khar Chin Forum
Pu Victor Biak Lian Chin Forum
Pi Bianca Mang Khan Cing Chin Forum
Dr. Rodinga Chin Forum
Pu Bawi Lian Mang Chin Human Rights Organisation
Michael Siang Chin Community Germany
Christine Pum Chin Community Germany
Thomas Khaipi Chin Community Germany
Michael Siang
Chairman
Chin Community Germany
eMail: m.siang@freenet.de
Tags: 2006, Constitution, Frankfurt