Nationalist Movement Among the ZomisBy

T. Siamchinthang

The Democratic Burmese Parliament was dissolved and military govt. was installed in 1962. Under Gen. Newin individuals like Ex Lt.Col.Sonkhopau,Damkhopau and Mang Khan Pau started their own resistance movement in 1964. The best organized anti-Burmese govt. was the Chin National Organization under the leadership of Hrangnawl and Sonchinlian. This resistance movement was supported by Thualzen and Ralhmung, Hmunhre, Tothang and Tunkhopum Baite for Sovereign Zo state in 1960's.When the British govt. transferred power to India, the independence of 1936did not clarify the status for the excluded areas i.e. the Chin Lushai land (Zoland) It is clear that the British govt. leave the Zo people free and independent with the power to decide their future political destiny. Sadly due to their political immaturity, lack of vision and political consciousness they count not decide for freedom but choose integration with free India.In the early part of 1960's, the Zomi Liberation Front was started in East Pakistan (now in Bangladesh) for liberating Zomi inhabited areas, which was disagreed with the United Chin Govt.of Tunkhopum by Mizo National Front (MNF).

In Manipur the Paite National Council under the leadership of Pu T.Goukhenpau submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India (L)Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960, demanding the formation of Chinland comprising 30 different tribes to be put under the category "CHIN". It argued that all this are similar linguistically, culturally, physically and traditionally.

The memorandum is a booklet form titled as 'RE-UNIFICATION OF THE CHIN PEOPLE OF INDIA AND BURMA UNDER ONE COUNTRY'. This might be one significant re-unification movement among the Zo people in India. In 1962 a group of young people believing in retaining the independence and sovereignty of the Zomis formed the Chinland Independence Organisation (CIO) and it co-ordinated with the uprising of 1965.

In 1966, the CIO was changed to the Zomi National Front (ZNF) and was in close contact with all revolutionaries movements in Burma which was against the Rangoon govt. Its main activity was to find out whether Zo/Zomi nationalist in Mizo hills, Chin hills and Manipur were interested in forming a combined forced aimed at attaining and independent Zo state.An organization called the Chin Democratic Party (CDP) was formed in 1971 under the leadership of Pu Mangtling and Wiliam Salianzam. Again some man of this party started the Chin Liberation Army (CLA). William Salianzam marched from Kachinland to Zoland with a Group of people for establishing a base at Bangladesh border for organizing a movement for Zoland.

Unfortunately they were found out by the Burmese Army on the Kalemyo-Tedim road and they were all moved down with a machine gun. In 1972, on 21st Jan. the Zomi National Congress (ZNC) came into be at Daizang, a small hamlet near Lamka town. Its founding father was Pu T.Gougin who declared that the birth of ZNC was the good of the age-old, down trodden people known as Zomis. The ZNC's ultimate goal is the unification of all the Zomis in the world and their political emancipation. It is true and through the activities of the ZNC that people began to gain political consciousness and awakening among the Zomis in Manipur. The ZNC is the instrumental to the birth of Zo Re-unification Organization (ZORO), the largest forum for Zo peoples re-unification movement today.The 1st world Zomi Convention took place at Champhai, a town in Mizoram-Mynmar border from 19-21 May 1988. The conference attended by two lakhs people from three countries, among others made a declaration and a charter of agreement affirming soliditary and integration for the RE-UNIFICATION of Zo people in India, Burma and Bangladesh which was signed by 40 delegates representing different Zo organizations in India Burma and Bangladesh.

The ZORO highlighted the caused of Zomi re-unification and political emancipation to the highest world body, the UNO and world leaders by submitting memorandum to the Secretary General of the UNO (Butrous Ghali), the Prime Minister of England (John Major) and the President of USA (Bill Clinton) and Indian Prime Minister and President (1990-'95).The ZORO observed the 100th anniversary year of the historical conference (convened at Fort William 29-1-1892 - 29-1-1992) and made 100 year of struggle for Zo re-unification declaration signed by 100 delegates and appealed to the govt.of Britain, USA, India, Burma and Bangladesh for the restoration of Zoland in their spirit of Atlantic Charter of 1892. Another Zomi Re-unification Organization was formed at Phupian, Kachin state of Myanmar in 1993 to achieve Zomi political goal of uniting all Zomis under one common platform. a Govt. of Zomi, for the Zomis and by the Zomis from the world of its founding President Pu Khaizasong Guite "A land or people, which was once union need to be ru-unified...a broken needs to be patch up, hence re-unification...the bigs task of reunifying the Zomis and the land they occupied is the main aim of the organization.

The ZORO submitted a well documented memorandum to the Secy. Gen. of the UNO on 20-5-1995 which contains 20 documents and memos.Clearly mentioned the struggle for the rightful cause of the Zo nation cannot be called off but shall continues till the whole ancestral homeland of the Zo peoples is brought at under one administration.In the latter part of 1980's Pu T.Zahau founded the Chin National Front (CNF)and later on he was succeeded by John Khawkimthang alias Nothankap. Pu John Khawkimthang in his address to the UN conference of indigenous people in Geneva on 27 July 1994 declared in the spirit of the ZORO charter that "The Chin or Asho Chin also known as the Kuki called themselves ZO, MIZO, ASHO, ZOMI, LAIMI, etc., formed as a nation before the advent of the British.

However in 1890, our country was subdue and divided into three administrative segment and annexed to India, Burma and Bengal by the British govt. for administrative convenience and it remain divided till today". In 1988, the Zomi national congress (ZNC) was re-established in Burma under the leadership of Pu Chinsianthang andPu Thanglianpau. The ZNC )(Burmna) got recognition as a political Partyand contested the 1989 Burma General election. The ZNC (Burma) released "The proclamation of the name Zomi" on the 6th Dec. 1988 in a book form which contains historical background of the origin of the Zo people and the evidence and proof of the racial name of the Zo or Zomi. ZOLAND(Location, area and population): The country inhabited by the Zo people confines between 92' and 95'Longitude East and 2' and 25' Latitude North.The whole area is roughly about 91000 sq. miles with a population of about 5 millions in 1991.

Zoland or Zo country specifically covers the following areas :-

1. Lushai Hills (now Mizoram) India2. Chin hills in Myanmar3. Hill areas of South and West of Manipur, India4. Jampui and Sakham range in Tripura, India5. Hill Tracks of Chittagong, Bangladesh6. Arakan, Burma7. Upper and lower Chindwin river including Sagaing Division and Kale kabaw valley, Burma.