|
 The
Chin, represented by the Chin National Front (CNF)
is headed by Mr. Thomas Thangnou and had applied for
the UNPO membership since 1996.
On July 15, 2001, the 26th Steering Committee
meeting unanimously accepted the Chin peoples as new
members, following a briefing by the Shan
representative, Mr Sai Wansai. The CNF have been
actively lobbying for their admittance for some
years, particularly at the February 2001 UNPO
General Assembly meeting in Tallinn, Estonia. With
their admittance, UNPO now has a total number of 17
members in the Asia Pacific Region alone; adding to
the latter's importance within the organization. It
is noted that at least two members are now actively
moving towards independence or autonomy, namely East
Timor and Bougainville, while Nagalim is still
engaged in peace negotiations with the government of
India. On the other hand, South Moluccas and Acheh/Sumatra
are still plagued by violence and instability.
Taiwan recently made strides in proliferating its
strive towards self-determination and international
recognition. For the benefit of UNPO News readership
we provide some background information on our new
members.
Chinland is located in the western part of Burma
(Myanmar), bordering India in the northeast and
Bangladesh in the southeast. The estimated
population of Chins in Burma is about 1.5 million.
At the UNPO, the Chin National Front (CNF)
represents the Chin people. The territory known
today as Chin State was an independent territory
outside the Burmese kingdom until the British
annexed it in the 1890s. It was directly ruled by
the British governor from Rangoon through the
chieftains of the territory outside the provincial
government of British Burma. When the British
government gave independence to the Burmese kingdom
in 1948, the Chin territory was legally entitled to
become an independent sovereign state, as it was not
annexed as a part of the Burmese kingdom. The Chin
people are a distinct people much different from the
Burmese in language, custom and culture.
The Chin chieftains who ruled the Chin territory
signed the historic Panglong Agreement with other
nationalities on February 12, 1947 to achieve
freedom from any colonialism including British
colonialism. This historic day became known as Union
Day, and has been observed since in the whole Union
of Burma. Another important day is February 20th.
This day marked the end to despotic and aristocratic
rule in the Chin State, and has been recognized by
successive governments of the Union of Burma as the
Chin National Day. However, British colonialism was
in effect being replaced by a Burmese leadership
instigated 'neo-colonialism' when the founding
fathers of the Union led by General Aung San were
assassinated on July 19, 1947 before completing the
Union Constitution.
Again in early 1962 the constitutional government of
the Union agreed to amend the 1947 Union
Constitution in a federal form, according to the
vision of the founding fathers of the Union. This
was sabotaged by a group of armed forces led by
General Ne Win who overthrew the constitutional
government and abolished the parliamentary system on
March 2, 1962. Since then General Ne Win ruled the
country as a despot dictator responsible for the
gross human rights violations and misery. The year
1988 saw a pro-democracy uprising against the
military regime, seeking an end to the military
dictatorship and the restoration of democracy and
justice in the whole of Burma. The military regime
responded by occupying Chinland with military force.
American-led Baptist missions since 1899 brought
Christianity to Chinland. With its overwhelming
Christian population, it became the only Christian
region in the 14 provinces of the Union of Burma.
The Burmese military regime accuses the Chin people
as being pro- Western and pro-American and uses this
as an excuse, justifying their unlawful acts of
persecution, torture, rape and ethnic cleansing.
Thousands were forced to flee, resulting in the
existence of a large community-in-exile of Chin
people. Like many other UNPO member nations the Chin
are being persecuted on the grounds of their
ethnicity, minority status, religion and practice of
democracy in their respective (religious)
organizations and institutions. This has
continuously destabilized and brutalized Burmese
society. In a sense, their membership of UNPO and
lobbying of international organizations like the UN
constitutes a 'last resort' to inform the outside
world of their desperate situation and to seek
effective shelter from the military regime's
repressive rule.
Contact UNPO
P.O. BOX 85878
2508CN The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel. # +31 (0)70 3646504
Fax # +31 (0)70 3646608
Email: unpo@unpo.org
http://www.unpo.org |
