Volume VIII. No. I. January-February 2005 Rhododendron News: January-February 2005
Rhododendron News
Volume VIII. No. I. January-February 2005
Chin Human Rights Organization
www.chro.org
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CONTENTS
Human Rights Situation:
• Innocent Chin Villager Summarily Executed
• Burmese Army Destroyed a Christian Cross in Matupi Township
• Chin Christians Forced to Contribute Money and Labor for Construction of Buddhist Monastery
• Civilian Compelled to Take Militia Training, Conscription Order Issued
• Unjust Order Against Chin Farmers
• SPDC Continues to Practice Forced Labor in Chin State
• Forced Labor: Construction of Rih Hospital Quarters
• Forced Labor at Tea Plantation Farm
International Campaign:
• CHRO calls for the observance of International Day of Prayer on Sunday, January 30th for Persecuted Chin Christians in Burma
• Exiled Chins Condemned The Burmese Military Junta’ practice of Religious Persecution Against Chin Christian in Burma
• Press Statement on a protest against religious persecution against Chin Christians in Burma
• Chin Community In the US Condemn SPDC Practice of Religious Persecution Against Chin Christians in Burma
• CHRO Briefing at US Department of State
• Update on Ethnic Nationalities Issues in Burma
Chin National Day
• Chins Commemorate National Day
Back Cover Poem
• Chin National Day
Human Rights:
Innocent Chin Villager Summarily Executed
Aizawl Feb 9, 2005
An 18 year-old boy named Samuel from Selawn village, Falam township in Chin State was summarily executed by Captain Tin Myo Win and his troops of Burmese Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 266 on January 19, 2005 near Hmawngkawn village.
In his testimony to CHRO, the victim’s father Mr. Chan Hlei Thang who fled to India on February 9, said that the Burmese troops had killed his son Samuel and arrested two of the victim’s elder brothers Mang Ci Thang and Cung Uk Lian. The two of them are being detained at Tihbual army camp.
Captain Tin Myo Win and his troops from LIB 266 arrested Mr. Samuel at Rih Bridge, the bridge that connects Burma and India, and took him to Selawn village. The Burmese troops then took him from Selawn to Hmawng Kawn village where he was killed near the village. The Burmese army accused Samuel of having connection with an armed outfit called Chin Integrated Army (CIA).
A hunter from Selawn village, who preferred to remain unnamed, elaborated: “His hat was left at the spot where he was killed. I found the blood stain on the ground but did not find his corpse there. This young man had no connection with CIA at all. All the villagers knew he was an ordinary farmer and an honest boy.”
The victim’s parents Mr. Chan Hlei Thang and family are now in India leaving their home and everything they possess behind in fear of the Burmese troops.
Burmese Army Destroyed a Christian Cross in Matupi Township
Aizawl: 13 January 2005
A Christian cross in Chin State’s Matupi town was vandalized and destroyed by Burmese troops on direct order of Colonel San Aung, Cheif of Tactical Command No. 2 for Chin State, a local man has just informed Chin Human Rights Organization. The order was carried out under the supervision of Lt. Colonel Aung Kyaw, commander of Infantry Battalion (204) stationed in the area. Sometime in learly December, during the night, a group of Burmese soldiers ripped apart white ceremic tiles and slab of marbles covering the 50-foot tall contrete structure cross, and then blackpainted it with oil residue. A report coming from inside Chin State says that the cross was completely torn down on January 3, 2005, on the eve of Burma’s independence celebration.
The cross had been standing on top of Mount Boi, south of Matupi Town for the last two decades. In 2000, local Christians from various denominations with monetary contributions by Matupi residents working in Thailand, replaced a wooden cross with 50-foot and 15×5 cubic feet concrete structure at the cost of 3.5 million Kyats. The reconstruction was completed in 2003.
“It is both heart wrenching and humiliating,” complained the local resident who says that the cross was the site for prayer and religious gathering for local Christians. The site of the cross is now sealed off and designated as part of an army base for Light Infantry Battalion 204. Christians are now prohibited from going up the mountain. It is also being reported that the military regime is planning on erecting a Buddhist pagoda on the very same spot.
In April of 2004, Burma’s ruling military junta State Peace and Development Council ordered the destruction of another cross in the same area. A wooden cross erected on Mount Lung Tak, located 5 miles from Matupi Town was demolished by Burmese troops from the same battalion. The cross that was destroyed last week is considered to be one of the last remaining crosses in major townships in Chin State. Chin people are overwhelmingly Christians and local people plant crosses on tops of hills and mountains besides their village and towns as symbols of their faith or in remembrance of early Christian missionaries and pioneers or for other historical and religious significance of the sites.
Chin Christians Forced to Contribute Money and Labor for Construction of Buddhist Monastery
Aizawl: February 2, 2005
20 villages, most of whose populations are Christians from Shinletwa village tract of Paletwa Township, of Southern Chin State were forced to contribute money and labor for construction of Buddhist Monastery near Shinletwa army camp by the Burmese Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 354.
Lieutenant Thein Lwin, Shinletwa army camp commander of Burmese army LIB 354 forcibly collected 5,000 Kyats per household from 20 villages in the area according to the local man who prefers to remain anonimity in fear of retaliation from the Burmese army. The Lieutenant said that the money they have collected from Chin Christians villagers is going to be used to pay for the transportation cost of the cement from Paletwa town to Shinletwa village for construction of a Buddhist monastery near the army camp.
Every village headman from the area was ordered to collect the money and present it to Shinletwa Army Camp commander no later than January 15, 2005.
As the Burmese army camp is going to be vacated for the Monastery, villagers are forced to contribute their labor for relocation of the army camp. Starting from January 15, 2005 one person per every household must participate in relocation of the Army camp.
However, two village tracts, Pathiantlang and Para were demanded to contribute money instead of labor: 70,000/- Kyats for Pathiantlang village tract and 50,000/- Kyats for Para village tract respectively.
The local man explained “It is very unusual that Christian Cross, building and even graveyard are forcibly occupied and destroyed by the Burmese army whenever they wanted to construct their camp. But now, the Burmese army is relocating their camp for the Buddhist Monastery”.
Civilians Compelled to Take Militia Training, Conscription Order Issued
January 10, 2005
Aizawl
Residents of Leilet and Siallam villages near India-Burma border were compelled to take emergency militia training by Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 268 based in Falam town of northern Chin State. The one-week training commenced on January 3, 2005 and was conducted by Captain Thawng Lian and his platoon from LIB 268.
Aside from the militia training, Lieutenant Colonel Win Bo, Battalion Commander of LIB 268 had placed a demand on the headman of Leilet village requiring him to select 4 able young men from his village to serve as soldiers in the Burma army. The news of conscription had many young people worried that many high school students studying at Falam Town did not dare to go home to Leilet village for Christmas holidays.
“The Burmese (Army) said that Chin villagers must take the militia training in order to be able to defend ourselves when the “terrorist” come to the village,” explained a local man in the area. “In fact the Burmese (Army) are the real terrorist, they dictate every movement of innocent villagers, but what can we do? They have the gun and power,” he complained.
Unjust Order Against Chin Farmers
February 4, 2005
Aizawl
[CHRO’s Note: In Chin state people make their living as slash and burn farmers. This kind of cultivation needs timely slashing, burning and cultivation of the farmland otherwise it can effect the whole farming procedure, and that could greatly affect the livelihood of the farmer for the whole year. In recent years, the SPDC is issuing an order prohibiting Chin farmers from practicing their traditional method of farming.
All village headmen from Paletwa Township in Southern Chin State were summoned for a meeting by the Township Forestry Department head U Thein Kyaw in December last week 2004. In the meeting, U Thein Kyaw told the villages’ headmen that no one is allowed to slash the forest for farming.
He coerced the villages’ headmen into signing a paper saying that they agreed not to slash the forest for farming. The agreement paper mentioned that those who broke the order must be properly fined.
“The order is totally unjust knowing that without slashing the farmland we can not grow anything. This is our ancestral land and we have been doing slash and burn cultivation system since time immemorial. Prohibiting slashing the farmland without providing us with any other alternative is totally unfair,” complained one village headmen to CHRO’s field monitor.
“We slashed our farmland anyway, and we are prepared to pay the price for it. We have collected 2,000/-Kyats each from every household, and with that money we are going to bribe the Burmese authority” he further explained.
Usually the farmland had to be slashed by January and burnt by March. However, due to the order, the farmers can barely start slashing their farmland in February and that will delay burning of the farm.
“If the rain comes early, we will not be able to burn our farmland and that will result in famine in the whole region,” said the village headman.
Last year, the Burmese authority issued the same order, not to slash the farmland, but we were allowed to slash the farmland after every household paid 500/-Kyats each to the authority.
In a similar incident, farmers from Matupi township of Southern Chins state were allowed to slash their farmland only after the farmers bribed more than 200,000/- Kyats to Burma Army Tactical 2 Commander, Colonel San Aung.
The farmland between Matupi and Phanai village were to be slashed for farming in 2005-2006. However, Colonel San Aung of Burma Army Tactical 2 Commander issued an order saying that no one is allowed to slash the farmland because the area was a designated land for the Burma army.
Thus, villagers collect 500/- Kyats each household and approached the Colonel to allow them slashing the farmland. The Colonel refused the bribe money. Then, the villagers collected 1,000/- Kyats more per every household and approached the Colonel a gain. Only then, Phanai villagers were allowed to slash their farmland.
“We are humiliated and badly treated by the Burmese (army). What a shame! We can’t even cultivate freely on our own ancestral land” complained the local man.
SPDC Continues to Practice Forced Labor in Chin State
February 2, 2005
According to one local man whose name is withheld for security reason, the Burmese military government known as State Peace and Development Council SPDC is still using forced labor in Chin state.
In accordance with the order issued by Thantlang Township Police Chief on December 15, 2004, villagers from Hmawngtlang area were compelled to repair Hmawngtlang police camp. The work involved digging trenches and repairing a 2000-meter long fence.
About 400 villagers from Hmanwgtlang, Leitak (a), (b) and (c), Congthia, Phaikhua, Aibur had to pack their own food and tools to engage in forced labor for two days repairing the police camp.
“This is not the only time people are forced to construct and repair the police camp, it is a yearly routine” said the local man.
In another incident, Burma Army Tactical commander Colonel Tin Hla on December 6, 2004 issued an order forcing residents of 9 villages to repair a road connecting Tibual village and Rih Town. The order was implemented by Rih Township Administration Officer Mya Win.
About 350 people, including men, women and children and elderly, were compeledl to engage in the labor for about 1 week. Villages that participated in the forced labor are; Tibual, Satawm, Sialam, Thingcang, Saek, Phunte, Khuahlir, Rih khuathar, Rih khuahlun.
Forced Labor: Construction of Rih Hospital Quarter
Champhai
December 14, 2004
In accordance with the order issued by Colonel Tin Hla of Burma Army Chin State Tactical No. 1 Commander, 17 villages from Rih township were forced to engage in construction of Rih Hospital quarters from November 22 to December 10, 2004.
One person from every household has to pack his/her own food and tools for the job. The work involved digging the ground and producing bricks for construction of the buildings. One local man who participated in the forced labor informed CHRO that a Lieutenant from Burmese army was assigned to supervise the forced laborers. The Lieutenant was constantly yelling at the villagers throughout the course of their work.
“Most of the time we have to engage in forced labor. It never cease, we are just waiting for one order to another. We do not have time to work at our farms,” said the villager who prefers to remain anonymous.
The villages engage in forced labor are; Tibual, Satawm, Siallam, Thingcang, Saek, Phunte, Khuahlir, Rih khuathar, Rihkhuahlun, Cawnghoih, Lianhna(A), Lianhna (B), Haiheng, Cawhte, Hmunlawh and Ticirh.
Rih village, which is situated at India-Burma border trade route, was granted township headquarters status by the SPDC in 2002. Ever since Rih was granted that status, the surrounding villages were constantly forced to work at government project such as road construction, and other development infrastructure.
Forced Labor at Tea Plantation Farm
January 13, 2005
Aizawl
An order issued by Lieutenant Colonel Myint Tun, commander of Burma army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 266 based at Rih, forced 150 people from Rih town to work as tea plantation farm from January 3 to 6, 2005.
The local man who participated at the forced labor told CHRO that the Burmese army has divided forced laborers into two groups. The first group starts their work from 7 AM to noon. And then, the second group continued the work from noon to 5 PM.
“As usual, we have to bring our own food and tools to work for the army. But this time, students were exempted from forced labor,” said the local man.
He said that farmers did not produce enough food to eat due to extensive forced labor and bad weather in the past harvest season, and has greatly affected their livelihood.
In Tiddim Township, township Peace and Development chairman U Sai Maung Lu and Burma army LIB 269 Battalion commander Colonel Kan Maw Oo have forced people from Luaibual block to work at tea plantation farm.
Everyone, including government employees and students, was compelled to work at the plantation.
Four years ago, the then North Western Command Commander Lt. Gen. Soe Win (now Prime Minister of SPDC) has proclaimed that the government (SPDC) will transform Chin state into tea plantation farm. Thus, tea plantation project was implemented with forced labor in every township of Chin state. So far, the project is a failure.
International Campaign:
CHRO calls for the observance of International Day of Prayer on Sunday, January 30th for Persecuted Chin Christians in Burma
Dear friends and supporters of the Chin people,
Chin Human Rights Organization invites you to join a global action in protest of the latest destruction of a Christian cross in Chin State by Burma’s ruling military regime. We call on all Chin people in and outside of Chinland, friends and supporters of Burma’s human rights and democratic movement around the world to observe Sunday, January 30th as a Day of Prayer for persecuted Chin Christians in Burma. We especially encourage Chin communities and supporters living in the capital cities of Asia, Europe and North America to stage a protest in front of Burmese Embassy.
On January 3, 2005, the Burmese military regime has destroyed yet another Christian cross in Matupi Township of Southern Chin State. Measuring 50 feet in height and built with solid concrete by multi-denominational churches in Matupi, the cross was considered to be one of the few remaining crosses in Chin State. During the last several years beginning in mid 1990s, the military regime has dismantled at least half a dozen crosses in Matupi, Tonzang, Hakha, Falam and Thantlang townships and has demolished several church buildings. In many cases, through illegal taxes and forced labour exacted from local Christians, the military regime has built Buddhist pagodas to replace these crosses.
The regime has no justifiable cause for the removal of those crosses and construction of Buddhist pagodas in a land where the people are predominantly Christians. The intent behind its action, however, is unmistakably clear. The regime is vigorously pursuing a policy of religious persecution against Chin Christians in order to expand the influence of Buddhism in Chinland. The ultimate goal is to gain control of the Chin people by annihilating their culture, religion and ethnic identity. The destruction of crosses, church buildings and persecution of Christian religious leaders are evidently designed to crush the will and psychology of Chin Christians to preserve and defend their religious, cultural and ethnic identity.
While the military junta alone is responsible for encroaching upon religious freedom and persecuting Chin Christians under the guise of national unity, we invite people of all religion including our Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu friends to join us in prayer for Chin Christians in Burma.
The military regime has persistently ignored calls by the United States and the larger international community to respect human rights and religious freedom of all its citizens. But we can together help to ameliorate the suffering of our people by showing to the world we are united against the reprehensible actions of the Burmese military junta.
An internationally synchronized action is certain to bring an impact on our cause. It is high time that we act together in unity and send a strong message to the junta it cannot get away with its reprehensible actions.
January 20, 2005
Chin Human Rights Organization
www.chro.org
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Exile Chins Condemned The Burmese Military Junta’ practice of Religious Persecution Against Chin Christian in Burma
By Salai Za Ceu Lian
Chinland Guardian
January 24, 2005: : Over 400 exiled Chins from Burma gather today near the Burmese embassy in New Delhi, India, condemning the Burmese military junta’s systematic practice of religious persecution against Chin Christians in their homeland. Community leaders and Chin Christian pastors from various denomination delivered speeches in the demonstration extending their solidarity with persecuted Chin Christians inside their homeland and denouncing the military junta known as Sate Peace and Development Council (SPDC) state-sponsored violations of religious freedom against Chin Christians.
Chin community in New Delhi organized themselves and staged demonstration in response to the Burmese military junta’s recent demolition of the last remaining Christian cross planted by various denominations in Matupi town of southern Chin state.
Reports from Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) said that the last remaining 50 foot tall Christian cross in Chin State at “Bol tlang” near Matupi town was pulled down by the Burmese military on January 3.
The Burmese military destroyed Christian crosses in every major town of Chin state such as Tonzang, Tedim, Falam, Hakha, and Thantlang.
The report says that military officials in high command often order the destruction of symbolic Christian crosses planted on mountain peaks by local Chin churches. These crosses are then replaced with Buddhist pagodas or other Buddhist religious statues, often forcing Chin Christians to make human and financial contribution for the construction.
“The Burmese army restricted all kind of Christian activities, they don’t even allow us to print the Bible in the country, the Burmese (military) are destroying our religion and our culture, and trying to assimilate the entire Chin people into mainstream Burman culture in the long run. We have to do something about it” said Salai Ram Lian Hmung.
Salai Ram Lian Hmung, leader of Canada based Chin Youth Organization (CYO) said that Chin community in Ottawa and Washington DC will stage demonstration in response to the barbaric acts of the Burmese military junta systematically persecuting Chin Christians.
On January 18, hundreds of Chin Christians in Kuala Lumpur stage demonstrations in front of the Burmese embassy in response to the destruction of the last remaining cross in their homeland by the Burmese military junta. Over a hundred of them were arrested and detained by Malaysian police charging them of illegal gathering without permission.
On January 20, Canada based Chin Human Rights Organization call to observe January 30 as international day of prayer for persecuted Chin Christians in Burma. Source from CHRO said that North America Chin Christian Fellowship that consists of more than 10 Chin Christian Churches in the United States and Canada along with their affiliated American and Canadian Churches will observe January 30 to pray for persecuted Chin Christians.
American Baptist Mission came to Chinland a hundred years ago and over the century, almost the entire Chin people converted to Christianity. About 90 percent of Chins are Christians in Burma and religious persecution is major concern in Chin state.
Press Statement on a protest against religious persecution against Chin Christians in Burma
January 29, 2005
Ottawa, Canada
Chin Christian community and supporters of Burma’s democratic and human rights movement are gathering in front of the Burmese (Myanmar) Embassy in Ottawa to protest Burmese military junta’s policy of religious persecution and discrimination against ethnic Chin Christians.
With this demonstration, we are joining other Chin communities and their supporters in Washington DC, Malaysia and New Delhi to condemn Burma’s military junta’s absolute disregard for freedom of religion and fundamental human rights.
On January 3, 2005 a giant Christian cross on top of Mount Boi near Matupi town of Chin State was destroyed by Burmese troops on direct order of Colonel San Aung, one of the highest ranking military commanders in the region. The 50-foot tall concrete cross was erected by local Christians at the cost three and a half million Kyats. After destroying the cross, troops from Light Infantry Battalion (304) hoisted a Burmese flag as a sign of victory against Christianity in Chin State where more than 90 percent of the populations are Christians. There are reports the regime is making plans to construct a Buddhist pagoda on the site.
This latest destruction is part of a larger and systematic effort by the military regime to persecute Chin Christians in order to expand the influence of Buddhism in Chinland. Since the early 1990s, the military regime has destroyed more than a dozen crosses in Matupi, Tonzang, Falam, Hakha and Thantlang Townships, and has demolished several Church buildings. At the same time, the regime has built Buddhist pagodas and sponsored the mass migration of Buddhist monks to Chinland.
Burma is a country characterized by its religious and ethnic diversity. The two Union constitutions of post independent Burma thus recognize a degree of religious freedom for all citizens. And religious freedom is a universally accepted fundamental human right to which all human beings are entitled. As a member of the international community, Burma is obliged to respect a universal norm of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and other fundamental human freedoms.
Burma’s military regime has no moral or legal justification for persecuting Chin Christians on the basis of their religious affiliation or ethnic identity. There is no moral basis for the junta to use the name of any religion, including Buddhism to which it claims to adhere, to justify the persecution of other religions. It is an insult to Buddhism itself, a religion of peace and compassion, for the Burmese military regime to use it as a disguise to achieve political objectives by persecuting people of non-Buddhist religion.
In December of 2004, Burma hosted a World Buddhists Summit amidst questions about its worthiness to organize such international meeting given the regime’s abysmal record of treating religious minorities and absolute disregard for fundamental human rights. Around the same time that this meeting took place in Rangoon, Burmese troops from Light Infantry Battalion (304) desecrated a Christian cross in Matupi of southern Chinland.
We condemn in the strongest terms the action of the State Peace and Development Council of the destruction on January 3, 2005 of a Christian cross in Matupi. We call on the regime to immediately abandon its policy of discrimination and persecution of religious minorities in Burma.
To this end we urge the junta:
To respect and observe the universally accepted fundamental human rights, including the right to religion as set out in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1947 and 1974 Constitution of the Union of Burma
To cease the illegal destruction and demolishment of Christian cross, churches and other religious buildings
To lift restriction on Christian churches to renovate or build new churches and religious buildings
To cease all state-sponsored activities of force-promoting Buddhism, including by abducting and force-converting of Christian children to Buddhism, forcing Christians to contribute to money and human labour for construction of Buddhist pagodas and statues, and targeting Christian leaders, evangelists and missionaries for abuses
We call on our host country, Canada and the international community to condemn the Burmese military junta’s policies of discrimination and persecution against Chin Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities in Burma. We call on Canada to assume a more proactive and effective role in the international effort to restore democracy and human rights in Burma
29 January 2005
Ottawa
For more information please contact
Chin Human Rights Organization
613-234-2485
[email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.chro.org
Chin Community in the US Condemns SPDC’s Practice of Religious Persecution Against Chin Christians in Burma
(Chin Community will demonstrate against the Military Regime of Burma on February 12, 2005)
Chin Freedom Coalition Press Release
February 6, 2005
Washington DC
Democracy lovers all over the world,
In response to the recent barbaric act of tearing down a Christian cross at Matupi in Chin State, the Chin community in Washington DC will hold a demonstration against the Military Regime of Burma to protest and condemn its religious persecutions under its inhumane policy of ethnic cleansing despite condemnation and pressures from Human Rights Groups around the world including United Nations Organization.
The thuggish Burmese Regime in various disguised names, such as Revolutionary Council, State Law and Order Restoration Council(SLORC) and currently by the name of State Peace and Development Council(SPDC) has been pulling down and barbarously destroying Christian Crosses on top of the Chin landmarks one after another and replacing them with Buddhist pagodas. Most recently, a group of the Burmese Junta soldiers led by Lt. Colonel Aung Kyaw, commander of Infantry Battalion (204) bulldozed and flattened a Christian shrine firmly built of concrete on a mountain top near Matupi of Southern Chin State of Burma on January 3, 2005.
Christian Crosses erected on tops of the landmarks stand as a symbol of Christ. That means the symbols of LOVE, PEACE, and most importantly, they stand as symbols of HOPE, hope for eternity.
The lawless Burmese regime’s barbaric act of vandalizing Christian crosses and replacing them with Buddhist pagodas means intimidation, an action of bully and a motion of tyranny.
In the Union of Burma where most population professes Buddhism, more than 90% of the Chin people profess Christianity. For this reason, Christianity has become a distinct identity of the Chins.
Once again, the CFC urges the Chin people in Chin land to steadfastly continue to oppose the military dictatorship as they had already done for the last 40plus years in order to hasten the end of the brutal and destructive military of Burma
The CFC releases this statement to the Chin people around the world to re-affirm their proud nationality and to have the spirit of unity and oneness before the Lord Almighty God.
The CFC – demands the Burmese Military Regime to immediately;
(1) reconstruct all the crosses they have demolished
(2) release the representatives of the people arrests and Aung San Suu Kyi and hand over to them the people’s power.
(3) stop human rights abuses and religious persecutions they are committing against ethnic nationalities in the Union of Burma.
The CFC appeals to International Community to join and support the CFC’s campaigns for human rights and religious freedom and its efforts to end the military dictatorship and promote DEMOCRACY in the Union of Burma.
All Chin churches, Political Exiles, Burmese Student leaders and individuals around will participate in this demonstration. Everyone is invited.
Day : February 12, 2005 (Saturday)
Time: 2:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.
Place: In front of Burmese Military Attach Office
2300 California Street, the corner of 23rd Street
Washington, DC 20008
Please contact for more information at:
Pu Tial Hu: (703) 505-3260; [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tg Dong Khan Khup: (443) 629-3329; [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Pu Mang Cung Nung: (240) 678-0784; [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Pu Ngo Cin Thawng: (301) 661-6518; [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Pu Roland Maung: (240) 271-4236; [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Central Committee
Chin Freedom Coalition
CHRO’s Briefing at US Department of State
Washington DC
February 1, 2005
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you again. I am particularly appreciative that this meeting encompasses the State Department’s Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Office of International Religious Freedom, and Burma Desk.
It is unfortunate that there is no improvement in terms of human rights situation in Burma and among the Chin people since we last met in October 2004. This time, I would like to focus my briefing on religious persecution systematically carried out by the ruling military junta State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) against Chin Christians.
In December of 2004, Burma hosted a World Buddhists Summit amidst questions about its worthiness to organize such international meeting given the regime’s abysmal record of treating religious minorities and absolute disregard for fundamental human rights. Around the same time that this meeting took place in Rangoon, Burmese troops from Light Infantry Battalion (304) desecrated a Christian cross in Matupi of southern Chinland.
On January 3, 2005 a giant Christian cross on top of Mount Boi near Matupi town of Chin State was destroyed by Burmese troops on direct order of Colonel San Aung, one of the highest ranking military commanders in the region. The 50-foot tall concrete cross was erected by local Christians at the cost of three and a half million Kyats. After destroying the cross, troops from Light Infantry Battalion (304) hoisted a Burmese flag as a sign of victory against Christianity in Chin State where more than 90 percent of the populations are Christians. There are reports the regime is making plans to construct a Buddhist pagoda on the site.
This latest destruction is part of a larger and systematic effort by the military regime to persecute Chin Christians in order to expand the influence of Buddhism in Chinland. Burma’s ruling military regime is systematically persecuting Chin Christians in order to replace Christianity with Buddhism among the Chin. In fact, The Burmese military regime is using religious persecution as a tool of ethnocide against Chin Christians.
Since the first Chin conversion to Christianity in the early 1900s following the arrival of American Baptist missionaries, Christianity has been deeply entrenched in Chin society and has become part of the Chin cultural identity.
Starting from the early 1990s, the regime had destroyed several Churches and had removed crosses placed on top of mountains near at least five Townships in Chin State. In many cases, crosses had been replaced with Buddhist pagodas and Christians had been forced to contribute labour and money for the constructions. The regime is also prohibiting the construction of new churches and has ordered to stop several churches under construction in towns and villages in Chin State.
Burmese troops stationed in Chin State have often deliberately disrupted worship services and physically assaulted pastors and church leaders. In some instances, pastors, evangelists and missionaries have been abducted, tortured and even killed by the Burmese soldiers. The regime has also tried to prevent the growth of Christianity by arbitrarily imposing discriminatory and restrictive rules on the activities of Christians.
There is also clear evidence that the regime is actively supporting coerced conversions of Chin Christians. The regime enticed Children from poor families in rural areas with the opportunity of free secular education in cities, and parents often entrusted their children in the care of the state. However, the children are sent to monasteries in Rangoon to become novice Buddhist monks against their will and without the knowledge of their parents. In February of 2003, five children, between the age of 8 and 17, managed to ran away from the monasteries in Rangoon to reunite with their parents. They said they had been forced to become novice Buddhist monks and to follow the teachings of Buddha.
Responding to international criticism, the State Peace and Development Council often, and correctly, refers to the fact that ‘Buddhism is a peaceful religion in that force-promoting it is against the fundamental beliefs of Buddhism itself.’ We have no illusion that that is true, as evidenced by the fact that there is a high degree of respect and harmony between Buddhist and Christian communities in Burma. It should be emphasized, however, that it is the regime, and not Buddhism, that is abusing religious freedom of Chin Christians in the name of ‘unifying’ the country.
The rise in incidents of religious persecution and other forms of human rights abuses suffered by Chin Christians is directly linked to the increased militarization of Chin State. Prior to 1988, only one army battalion was stationed in Chin State. However, at least 12 additional infantry battalions are now operating in the area. Due to the growing human rights abuse in Chin State, tens of thousands of Chin families have been forced to flee to India, Bangladesh and elsewhere in the region.
Approximately 50,000 Chin refugees, of men, women and children have sought refuge in India. Of these, only about one percent has legal recognition by the UNHCR and a great majority of them are at risk of deportation by the authorities under which they live. Thousands more are scattered throughout neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand while a great number of them are internally displaced. Their humanitarian need is of great urgency.
We feel that it is important for the United States government and the world community to remain aware of this and adopt stronger measures against the Burmese military junta.
Thank you.
Salai Bawi Lian Mang
Director
Chin Human Rights Organization
[email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.chro.org
Update on Ethnic Nationalities Issues in Burma
By Salai Bawi Lian Mang
Chin Human Rights Organization
At
Canadian NGO Consultation Meeting on Burma
Canadian Council for International Cooperation
1 Nicholas Street, Ottawa
Friday 14 January 2005
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about the ethnic nationalities, an issue of great importance in the politics of Burma today. When we talk about non-Burman ethnic nationalities issue in Burma, some people have the wrong impression that it is a minority issue representing only a very small percentage of the country’s population.
It is estimated that there are about 50 million people in Burma. Of this, about 40% of the populations are non-Burman ethnic nationalities who inhabit more than 55% of the land area in the country. The issue of non-Burman ethnic people, by any standards, is not a minority problem.
In fact, ethnic nationalities issue in Burma is not a minority issue, nor just one of the many problems facing the country. The issue of ethnic nationalities in Burma is an issue of serious concern that needs to be paid serious attention to.
Instead of going into details, I will try to limit myself to a brief update on the situation since I realize that most of you have been closely involved with Burma issues and have a deep sense of understanding and knowledge about the country’s situation.
After the power reshuffle within the SPDC in October 2004, the overall human rights and political situation in the country is heading from bad to worst. Even though thousands of prisoners have been released by the SPDC in recent months, many more political prisoners remain behind bar, and the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi has been extended for at least another year.
There was evidence of mounting tensions between one of the ceasefire groups, United Was State Army (UWSA) and the Burmese army Artillery Battalion No. 348, Infantry Battalion 312 in Maingmaw areas since November 2004.
In Shwe-go area of Kachin state, the Burmese army had seized the former Kachin Independence Army (KIA) base, and as a result, mounting tension between the KIO and the SPDC was reported. The KIO is one of the main ethnic armed groups that have reached a ceasefire agreement with the SPDC more than a decade a go.
It is reported that the SPDC is preparing for major offensive against Shan State Army (Southern) by deploying a large number of troops in southern Shan state.
In Karenni state, the Karenni ceasefire groups and the SPDC attacked Karenni National Progressive Party camp on January 10, 2005 and the battle is still going on.
In Karen state, during the Karen National Union 13th congress in December, the SPDC troops terrorized and burned 10 Karen villages that resulted in the displacement of at least 1000 Karen villagers.
As the New Year begins, Karen National Liberation Army 201 Battalion headquarter is under attack by the SPDC troops and the battle is still going on.
The SPDC has reneged on the verbal ceasefire agreement between itself and the KNU in 2004. Furthermore, the efforts made by religious leaders to reach ceasefire agreement between the KNPP and SPDC have been rendered meaningless because the SPDC has deliberately attacked the base of KNPP.
In Chin State, the SPDC has just destroyed the only remaining cross planted by Chin Christian in Matupi town of southern Chin State on January 3, 2005 on the eve of Burma’s independence day. About 90% of Chins are Christian and religious persecution is major concern in Chin state.
On the other hand the SPDC announced that the “National Convention,” which was suspended indefinitely in 2004 is going to be reconvened on February 17, 2004.
When the convention was called in May 2004, 1088 representatives, most of whom are handpicked by the junta, attended the convention. During the Convention only ethnic armed groups were able to seriously discuss political matters and ethnic national affairs. The convention was suspended when the 13 “ceasefire” ethnic armed groups submitted a proposal on federal system, greater autonomy and control over natural resources by member state in the country.
It is likely that the ethnic armed groups who have reached ceasefire agreement with the SPDC will attend the National Convention in February with the same proposal they have brought in the previous Convention. If the SPDC continues to refuse the proposal made by the ceasefire groups, it is possible that they will walk away from the Convention.
The recent movement of the SPDC in the ethnic areas clearly shows that they are in favor of confrontation when dealing with the ethnic issues. Today, the ethnic nationalities in Burma are fighting for their very survival as a people. The problems of ethnic nationalities could only be remedied through fundamental change in the political system, a change that would allow them equitable representation in the decision-making process of the country.
Thank you.
Salai Bawi Lian Mang
Chin Human Rights Organization
Chin National Day:
Chins Commemorate National Day
By Salai Za Uk Ling
Chinland Guardian
21 February, 2005: Hanging a banner that reads “Chin National Day” is illegal at celebrations inside Chin State, but Chin people living in exile in countries around the world were able to commemorate the 57th Chin National Day without having to worry about repercussion from Burmese military authorities.
February 20 is an annual celebration marking the declaration of the result of a Chin public plebiscite held in 1948. At the public assembly held at Falam that year, over 5000 Chin people voted for democratic system of government after rejecting the continuance of traditional aristocratic feudal system that had been in practice in Chin society for centuries. That day came to be known as Chin National Day and has annually been observed as a national holiday.
The 57th celebrations of Chin National Day were held in cities across Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. In Kula Lumpur, imminent immigration crackdown by Malaysian authorities did not deter over 2000 Chin expatriates to converge for the National Day celebration. In New Delhi, Aizawl, Singapore and Tokyo hundreds of Chin gathered to observe the occasion. In Canada, celebrations were held in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver. In the United States there were celebrations in Washington D.C, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, Indianapolis, Battle Creek, Jacksonville, Oklahoma. In Europe, commemorative events took place in Germany, Norway and Denmark.
“We take pride in our National Day being an occasion that celebrates the dawn of democracy in Chinland,” says Salai Mang Bik, Chairman of the organizing committee for the celebration in Ottawa. Ironically, the democratic system that the Chin people voted for was short-lived when General Ne Win overthrew a democratically elected government in 1962.
Inside Burma and Chin State, the decree of ruling military regime prohibits the celebration of February 20th as Chin National Day. Instead the regime uses the name “Chin State Day.” This move has been seen by Chin people as a distortion of history to facilitate the policy of eliminating the Chin’s distinct national identity.
This sentiment was echoed in a commemorative address to the Chin people by Chin National Front’s Chairman Mr. Thomas Thangnou. He blamed the “racist ideology” of Burma’s military junta as being responsible for the erosion of Chin language, culture and religion. He stressed that patriotic consciousness is necessary to resist the threat of identity erosion.
“We will stand firmly against any powers which threaten the survival of our national identity. Protecting our Chin national identity and interest remains the guiding principle of Chin national revolution,” Mr. Thangnou said.
Back Cover Poem:
Chin National Day
By Van Biak Thang
Let’s celebrate the day traditionally:
The day of truth, unity and assembly.
Hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder,
Children, women and men altogether,
Celebrate the day, so bright and clear.
Open your heart, your arms and your decanter,
To the land where we are bound together;
Let the sun and the rain stop you never.
O Come, you all, to the football ground!
Celebrate the day here and all around.
Dress and drape around in national costumes,
Delight in a circular dance by holding arms,
Zupu in the middle which breeds equality,
And exchange verses in air of tranquillity;
O Celebrate the day to its highest glory!
Hit the horns of mithan and strike the gongs,
Blow the trumpet and sing the songs,
To the ping-ping rhythm of the drums,
And start dancing all our national laams;
Celebrate the day in its deepest chimes.
Children, rejoice and have your time to gambol;
For men of strength and skills, blow the whistle,
And open the wrestling ground floored with chaff;
Women, let the vicinity be filled with claps.
Celebrate the day on and over the knaps.
Let’s celebrate our day traditionally.
O you all, come and enjoy its liberty!
Share the table of oneness in diversity,
And make its engraved history eternal.
Celebrate the day, uniquely national.
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