Rhododendron News
Volume VII. No. III. May-June 2004
Contents
Human Rights Violations in Chinland:
Christian Cross Destroyed By SPDC in Matupi
Christian Pastors Forced to Take part at Buddhist Water Festival
Obey the Order or Go to Jail
Construction of Baptist Church Ordered to Halt in Matupi
SPDC Open 2 New Concentration Camps in Chin State
Village Headman and Council Menber Arrested for Failing to Repair Border Trade Road
45 Villagers from Rezua Township Engage in Forced Labor Construction of Kangaw-Matupi Road
Villagers Forced to Work at Army Camp
Press Release:
Burma’s Junta Guilty of Mounting A Campaign of Ethnocide Against Chin Christians
SPDC Guilty of Persecuting Christians Despite Purported Commitment to Political Reforms
Opinion:
Should the invitees attend the National Convention?
Facts & Arguments:
Conditions For Chinland To Join Reunification Of Federal Union Of Burma
Back Cover Poem:
Our Heart is There But There
Christian Cross Destroyed By SPDC in Matupi
Aizawl: June 6, 2004: Cross planted by Chin Christians near Matupi town in southern Chin State was destroyed by the Burmese soldiers in the early April 2004. Destruction of the order was issued by Colonel Hla Swe, commander of Burma army Tactical Command No. 2 based in Matupi town.
The cross was planted in 1996 by Longvang block Assembly of God’s Church members from Matupi town at the top of mount Lungtak-tlong, which is situated on Kaisi range between Matupi town and Valangpi village.
According to Mr. …..(name withheld for security reason), who belongs to the Longvang AG church, the cross was destroyed during the night and now the site of the cross is reserved by the Tactical Command office to build Buddhist pagoda.
Moreover, a request made by all denomination of Christians from Matupi to conduct Easter Sunday worship service at Bawl-tlang, where a big cross was planted by Chin Christians, was denied by Colonel Hla Swe.
Christians from the area used to conduct worship service and religious activities at Bawl-tlang in the past. However, the Colonel told the town people that the site of the cross at Bawl-tlang is now taken over by Burmese Army Battalion 304 as army camp area and no civilians is allowed to approach the place.
Christian Pastors Forced to Take part at Buddhist Water Festival
Aizawl: June 21, 2004: According to Rev. C……(name withheld for security reason) of Matupi Baptist Association, Colonel San Aung, Commander of Burmese army Tactical no.(2) Chin state, has ordered several Chin Christian pastors from Matupi town in Southern Chin state to participate at an opening ceremony of Buddhist water festival on April 12, 2004.
At lease 15 Chin Christian pastors, most of them are reverend, were forced to take part in the ceremony wearing their Christian religious robe. They were seated with the Buddhist monk at the front raw of the stage where the ceremony was held.
CHRO source said that the ceremony was recorded by Mya-Waddi television station to propagate that Burmese Buddhists are in harmony with Chin Christian leaders. Mya-Waddi television station is the Burmese army propaganda television station.
Chin Christians from the town were forced to construct marquee at the middle of the town to conduct the Buddhist water festival. Besides, every household is compel to contribute 1000/-kyat for the festival.
Young girls are compel to perform cultural dance at the ceremony and one person per household must attend the ceremony.
Rev. C….. further mentioned that it is totally unjust as most of the town residence are Chin Christians and there are only about a dozen Buddhist who are Burmans coming to the town as government servants.
Obey the Order or Go to Jail
Three Chin Christian Pastors Detained One Night for Defying SPDC Order
Aizawl: June 4, 2004: Three Chin Christian pastors in Matupi town were detained by the SPDC authority for a night on April 16, 2004 for failing to obey the order, issued by Colonel Hla Swe of Burmese Army Tactical Command No. 2 of Chin state, to construct the road between Matupi town and Duma village.
The three pastors are Rev. Thuan Ting of Christian Reform Church at Longvan block of Matupi town, Rev. Kui Dim of Matupi Baptist Church at Ngala block, and Captain Dup Ding of Salvation Army church at Longvan block.
The three pastors were arrested by Captain Aung Myint Tun of Matupi police station and detained them for a night at the police station lockup. On the next day, the three pastors were brought to Colonel Hla Swe.
The Colonel ordered the three pastors to get dress with their respective religious robe and meet him again with their uniform. When the pastors come back with their uniform, the Colonel told them to choose whether they wanted to go to jail or engage in road construction. The Colonel warned them that he will not tolerate if they defy his order in the future.
Construction of the road between Matupi town and Duma village was started with forced labor in March 2004. All the town residence and surrounding villages, including government servants, are compels to contribute one person per household to participate in the forced labor. Widows are exempted from the labor if they can pay 4,000/-kyats. 8,000/- to 10,000/- kyat fine was imposed on every family those who are not widow and fail to participate in the road construction.
Construction of Baptist Church Ordered to Halt in Matupi
Aizawl: June 8, 2004: Colonel Hla Swe of Burmese Army Tactical Command No. 2, based in Matupi town of Chin state had ordered to halt construction of Than Dun Baptist Church at Longvan block of the town. The Colonel ordered, by oral, the Church elders to stop construction of That Dun Baptist Church in the last week of March. Source said that no one dared to defy the order even though it is not a written order.
Construction of the church was halted for the past ten years due to problems within the Church. However, the Church elders approached and requested Colonel Hla Swe to allow them to reconstruct the Church in December 2003 and the Colonel gave them permission.
Thus, Christians from Matupi town started the reconstruction of That Dun Baptist Church in January 2004.
Source said that the reconstruction of the Church was reported by the Buddhist monk in Matupi to higher authority and the higher authority ordered Colonel Hla Swe to stop reconstruction of That Dun Baptist Church which he gave permission in December 2003.
SPDC Open 2 New Concentration Camps in Chin State
Champhai: May 6, 2004: CHRO source reported that the Burmese military junta State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has expanded two new concentration camp at Rih town and Lentlang village at India-Burma border trade route in March 2004.
There are about 30 prisoners who are engage in construction of civil hospital at Rih town and another concentration camp at Lentlang village have about 50 prisoner who are engage in construction of road between Tiddim town and Rih town in India-Burma border.
Source said that most of the prisoners are from Kalaymyo prison. They are strictly guarded by both police and Burmese army. Villagers and civilians are not allowed to contact with the prisoners.
The SPDC made two other concentration camps in Chin state at Matupi town and Tlangzar village of Falam township in 1997.
Village Headman and It’s Council Menber Arrested for Failing to Repair Border Trade Road
Champhai: June 4, 2004: “Village headman and it’s village council members of Kaptel village from Tiddim township, northern Chin state were arrested by the local authority for failing to repair India-Burma border trade road between Haimual village and Tiddim town near India-Burma border” said the local villager who cross the border to India side.
The local villager inform CHRO field monitor that the headman of Kaptel village Pu Khai Bawk and village council member Pu Jacob were arrested and detained at Kaptel police lockup. They were arrested for failing to repair their imposed quota which the authority ordered them to repair in the beginning of May.
About 30 villages from the border area were compels to repair India-Burma border trade road since the last week of March this year. However, as most of Kaptel villagers have to cross Indian side of the border to find any job available to support themselves, they have no time to work at road repair to fulfill their quota. Even though the village headman made petition in advanced to the authority about their situation, the authority ignored his petition.
Kaptel villagers are now trying to approach the local authority to release their headman and the village council member.
In March 2004, village headmen and village council members of Phanai and Lungtum villages from Matupi township were arrested and detained for failing to repair Midat-Matupi road.
45 Villagers from Rezua Township Engage in Forced Labor Construction of Kangaw-Matupi Road
Aizawl: June 21, 2004: 30 persons per villages from 45 villages in Rezua tonship were forced to construct Kangaw-Matupi road since March 2004 and the forced labor is continue till this report date. U MW (name withheld for security reason) of Rezua town reported to CHRO field monitor.
Major Kyaw Sein Win of Burma army Light Infantry Battalion LIB 50 based in Kangaw, Sagaing Division issued the order that construction of the road must be completed before the end of June. Major Kyaw Sein Win appointed Captain Win Hlaing as in-charge and supervisor of the road construction.
The SPDC does not provide any thing for construction of the road and the villagers have to bring their own ration and necessary tolls to the work site.
Three villages Lungrang, Sawthing and Resa were fined 80,000/- Kyats each by Captain Win Hlaing that their job performance is not satisfactory.
Villagers Forced to Work at Army Camp
Aizawl: April 27, 2004: Sergeant Major Maung Myint of Burma army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 55 at Sinletwa army camp had ordered Sinletwa and surrounding 4 village tracks to repair the fence of the camp starting from April 10, 2004. 12 persons per village track have to go to the army camp to repair the fence of Sinletwa army camp.
The villagers have to bring their own ration and tools to work at the camp for seven days. The forced laborers start their daily work at 5 AM in the morning. They were allowed to take their breakfast at 12 PM noon and continue to work till dark. Then they have to cook their supper after dark.
Press Release:
Chin Human Rights Organization
Date: May 19, 2004
Ottawa
Burma’s Junta Guilty of Mounting A Campaign of
Ethnocide Against Chin Christians
Chin Human Rights Organization announces the release of a report entitled “Religious Persecution: A Campaign of Ethnocide Against Chin Christians in Burma.” A compilation of facts gathered over the last eight years, the report exposes disturbing evidences of religious persecution against Chin Christians by Burma’s ruling military junta State Peace and Development Council. The report details cases of abuse by Burmese authorities toward one of the country’s major ethnic groups who are predominantly of Christian faith. The Chins inhabit a hilly region of Burma’s western frontier. Over half a million Chins are living in the Chin State and more than 90 percent of them are Christians. The total population of Chin living in the whole of Burma and neighbouring countries is estimated to number 2 millions. This report reveals that the military junta ruling Burma is mounting an active campaign to eliminate the Chin religion, culture and race as part of a policy to ‘Burmanize’ the country.
Since 1999, the United States has singled out Burma as a few countries in the world that violate religious freedom. This report adds yet more evidence to the fact that Burma’s ruling junta, despite its ongoing effort to portray itself as pursuing serious reforms on political and human rights conditions of the country by resuming the stalled National Convention, is responsible for discriminating and persecuting minority religious and ethnic groups in the country.
The 140-page report documents horrifying incidents of abuse by members of the Burma Army, often on direct orders of senior military officials, against Chin Christians. This report also reveals that there is an ongoing effort by the ruling military regime to force-convert Chin Christians to Buddhism, the country’s dominant religion.
The report says that military officials in high command often order the destruction of symbolic Christian crosses planted on mountain peaks by local 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. This report demonstrates that Burmese authorities are also responsible for deliberately hampering efforts by Christian congregations to freely conduct their religious affairs by denying them permission to hold conferences and worship services and by subjecting Christian activities to strict and discriminatory regulations.
Religion is an important part of Chin society and culture. This report gives clear evidence that Burma’s ruling military regime State Peace and Development Council is responsible for conducting a policy of ‘cultural genocide’ or ethnocide against the Chin people, one of Burma’s distinct society. The report, however, carefully notes that members of the ruling regime, rather than Buddhist religion, are responsible for the persecution of Chin Christians.
For More Information Please Contact;
In Canada: Salai Za Uk Ling (Telephone): 807 577 4903
In the United States: Salai Bawi Lian Mang (Telephone) 510 595 1872
In Thailand: Victor Biak Lian (Telephone) (66) 782 539 41.
Online version of the report is available at
URL: www.chro.org
Chin Human Rights Organization
50 Bell Street N.#2
Ottawa, CANADA
ON, K1R 7C7
Email: [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.chro.org
SPDC Guilty of Persecuting Christians Despite Purported Commitment to Political Reforms
Chinland Guardian
By Salai Za Uk Ling
21-May-2004, Ottawa: Even as Burma’s ruling military junta State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) proceeds with the ‘unrepresentative’ National Convention amidst harsh international criticism and opposition boycott, a new report released recently by Chin Human Rights Organization accused the ruling regime of pursuing an active campaign to wipe out one of Burma’s distinct cultural and ethnic groups.
Entitled “Religious Persecution: A Campaign of Ethnocide Against Chin Christians in Burma,” the report documents in chilling detail persecution and discrimination experienced by Chin people due to their religious and ethnic identity.
“The ruling military regime is responsible for discriminating and persecuting minority religious and ethnic groups in Burma,” says the 140-page report, adding that such policies are aimed at exterminating the culture of ethnic minorities in Burma. The report adds yet more evidence to what the United States government has been voicing concerns since 1999 about the policies of Burma’s ruling military regime towards the country’s minority religious groups.
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 report demonstrates that Burmese authorities are also responsible for deliberately hampering efforts by Christian congregations to freely conduct their religious affairs by denying them permission to hold conferences and worship services and by subjecting Christian activities to strict and discriminatory regulations.
Christian pastors and church leaders are often the first targets in the regime’s campaign of religious persecution in Chinland. They are often subjected to arrest, illegal detention, abuse and torture, mutilation of body parts and in some cases summary execution.
Christian religion represents the central pillar of today’s Chin society and is regarded by many as a second Chin culture. “Persecuting the Chin because of their religion,” the report contends, “Constitutes an act of cultural genocide against a distinct culture.”
Salai Bawi Lian Mang, Director of CHRO and co-author of the report says, “Evidences we have demonstrate that persecution of Chin Christians is both systematic and well-planned and the idea that Burma’s military regime is serious about democratic and human rights reform is not only questionable but fundamentally erroneous.” He was referring to the stalled National Convention resumed recently in Burma by the ruling State Peace and Development Council.
The report is now available online at www.chro.org. Printed copies are also available on request by writing to [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Opinion:
Should the invitees attend the National Convention?
By Salai Za Ceu Lian
Chinland Guardian
May 9, 2004: Even if the military generals implement the process of constitution in their sponsored convention by compelling the participants to approve it, we are not going to accept the outcomes as the would-be-seen result is illegal. Indeed, convening the national convention without finding means first to end the internal political crisis is disgraceful and unacceptable agenda that the military regime is embarking on. It is just a FAKE convention.
The idea in behind is a mere illusion of introducing a sweeping reform. It will neither produce concrete results benefiting the country’s political future nor will it pave ways to bring about positive changes politically, which would lead towards reinstating democratic process. The sole purpose of the upcoming national convention slated on May 17,2004 by thuggish regime is to legalize the militarism and defend dictatorial rule through the Constitution.
Once again, they are masterminding the participants in coming convention to nullify the legitimate role of the winning party (NLD) and 1990 election result, which they, the generals, themselves organized it. Strictly speaking, their move with the proposed convention is purely a flagrant breach of the 1990s election outcome and its legitimacy. Before Burma holds the presidency of ASEAN in 2006, the Burmese Generals are attempting to make sure that their draft constitution is fully completed. Unfortunately, the Secretary general of United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan’s expectation to see Burma’s democratic government in the year 2006 would be the year for ASEAN countries to officially recognize the bloody Burmese military regime by empowering them to chair the ASEAN.
By looking at the real challenges facing the country politically at this critical juncture, one could easily draw a conclusion that convening a national convention so as to deal with the Constitution is not first priority for leaders who are in power to work on it. While hundreds of thousands of political dissidents are in notorious prisons throughout Burma’s jails and even the leader of a legitimate NLD Party, Daw Suu, herself is under house detention, the spiraling notion of pushing the agenda ahead to hold national convention is both primary silliness and vicious act of military leaders. Violations of human rights have been unabated in countryside. Beside this, Professor Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Burma was flatly refused to continue his fact-finding mission inside the country.
If the dictators are sincerely committed to working towards transition of democracy and handing over power to the winning party where the legitimate power is belonged, they must first start holding a genuine dialogue and not kind of previous talk or so-called confidence building that resulted in vague two years ago. They must together work in consultation with the legitimate body in accordance with internationally accpeted norms.
Unfortunately, the proposed convention is a series attempt by the brutal regime to continue the old-fashioned National Concention, which was discontinued in 1996. With respect to the current convention, no sign is indicated from generals that they are going to abandon the six points guideline and 104 points article. No statement is made regarding the freedom of expression for the participants in National Convention to freely share their beliefs and that their expressed concerns be taken into consideration. If the convention is to be convened jointly by winning party- NLD and SPDC, we might have to wait and expect positive outcomes.
However, as the present convention is the one an illegal regime has one-sidedly called and going to dictate it, we, as democrats, both inside and outside the country must denounce it. Untill and unless the regime takes decisive and concrete actions toward handing over political power to the election-winning party and allow all the political parties to freely continue their political activism, there is nothing that we can say about the regime’s committment to a real political reform. Just releasing one or two political prisoners is not a good sign or positive steps either. But this rather is a considerable evidence to suggest that dictators are trying to deceive international community especially western powers so that the imposed s