Joint Statement of Chin Communities and Organizations Across the Globe
*Issued on the 60th. Anniversary of Chin National Day*
*20th. February 2008*
Today, the 20th. of February 2008, marks the 60th. Anniversary of the auspicious Chin National Day. We, the Chin communities and organizations worldwide, jointly issue this statement.
Chin National Day is a felicitous occasion on which we commemorate consistently an important milestone in our history and reaffirm its undisputable facts; its an occasion on which we reflect our collective
concept and strengthen our common destination of the present and future Chin generations.
Since time immemorial the Chin have been an independent people having their own territory, self-government, distinct literature, language and culture. The British imperialists occupied the lower Burma part by part and
eventually abolished the Burmese Kingdom Yadanabon in 1885. The Bristish intrusion into Chin territory began in 1890 and the whole Chin Hills fell under the British in 1895. Thus, the British occupied the territories of the
Burmans and those of the other nationalities in different stages and ruled them under the British colonial administration.
Kachin, Karen, Chin, Burman, Mon, Rakhine, Shan all struggled to restore freedom from the British domination. Under the leadership of the Burman leader Aung San all strived to gain Independence and agreed to establish a
Union during the Conference held in Panglong. The Panglong Agreement was signed on 12. February 1947; Independence was achieved on 4. January 1948 and the Union of Burma emerged.
The Chin people and Chinland became one of the Founding Member States of the new Union of Burma, which was ruled under parliament democracy administrative system. The conference of 5000 representatives held in Falam,
the then capital of Chinland from 18 to 20 February 1948 chose to adandon the ancient aristocratic system in favour of parliament democracy system. In this way 20. February is known as the Chin National Day. It is to be
recorded that the said Conference was the first ever mass referendum held in the Union after it gained Independence.
However, the Chin people and Chin State which joined the Union has not yet enjoyed the promises of Panglong Agreement. These promises included equality, federalism. In fact the Chin, after 60 years of Independence, have
lost all Human Rights under the military dictatorship, which is employing systematic ethnic cleansing. And as a result, the Chin people are now leaving their own homeland and forced to become refugees in foreign lands
across the globe while those left behind are suffering all types of human miseries.
The problems associated with the Union of Burma and Chinland are shared with each other and with the other ethnic nationalities. Moreover, Burma’s problems have become an international issue addressed at the United Nations Security Council. It is now impossible to solve the problems facing the Chin people overnight. We hope that the UNSC realize the importance and urgency of our plight.
Until the peaceful repartriation of the Chin in diaspora and until a Federal Union of Burma is established, the Chin people need the protection of the International Community and the United Nations.
We reaffirm and declare on this auspicious 60th Anniversary of the Chin National Day, that the Chin people, some day soon will and must reclaim our own territory, practice our culture, including our languages and continue to
add to the wealth of our ancestors’ body of knowledge, literature and history!.
Chin Community Denmark
Chin Community
(Germany)
Chin Community of Indiana, USA
Chin Community Norway
Chin Forum
Chin Freedom Coalition
Chin Human Rights Organization
Chin National Community – Japan
Chin National League for Democracy (Exile)
Chin National Organization – Korea
Chin Student Union of North America
Chin Women Organization – Japan
Melbourne Chin Community
Women League of Chinland
Zomi Community Committee (New Delhi, India)
Zomi Human Rights Foundation (Burma)
Zomi Innkuan Denmark
Zomi Innkuan Germany
Zomi Innkuan Norway
Zomi Innkuan USA
Zomi National Congress (Liberated Area)
Tags: 2008, Anniversary, CND60