For Immediate Release
CHRO Calls to Observe Day of Mourning
December 21, 2007- Berkeley: The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) is calling Chin community around the world to observe Sunday December 23 as a day of mourning that the entire Chin communities around the world are shocked and saddened to learn the tragic news about the death of 45 Chins including several children and women at the Andaman Sea when a boat carrying about a hundred Chins accidentally sunk into the sea near Kaw-tawng Thai-Burma border on December 20, 2007 after colliding with a fishing boat at night.
According to Chin Refugee Committee in Malaysia, most of the victims are Chin refugees heading toward Malaysia to join with their families in Kuala Lumpur.
“This is the most devastating tragedy ever in the Chin history” said Victor Biak Lian member of board of directors of CHRO.
Worsening human rights situation in Burma is a factor which forced thousands of Chins to flee from their homeland in search of survival.
The Chins who are mostly Christians, in Buddhist dominated country, are persecuted due to their belief in democracy and Christianity and also for their ethnic background, by the Burmese military regime.
There are about 25 thousand Chin refugee living in Malaysia and more than 60 thousands are taking refuge in Mizoram state of India.
Chin Human Rights Organization
www.chro.org
For more information please contact:
Victor Khambil in Malaysia at (60) 12-226-4549
Victor Biak Lian in Ottawa at (603) 796-9514