Friday, October 24, 2008

Chin People in New Delhi Met with Prominent National Figures

- Plato Van Rung Mang

11 October, 2008: Delhi, India: The Chin people, based in New Delhi, had an inspiring meeting with their prominent national figures including Professor Salai Tun Than, Pu Lian Uk (MP), Salai Kipp Kho Lian and Salai Bawi Lian Mang, who dropped by one day in New Delhi, on their way to Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, India to attend Chin Historical Seminar to be held on October 13-15, 2008.

All the participants in the meeting, more than seventy, stood up with a token of respect and honor when their eagerly awaited guests were stepping inside the meeting hall. The meeting was commenced with Rev. Ram Lian Khar’s prayer and self-introduction. The participants were then fully enthused with a series of dynamic messages from their leaders. The messages being addressed to the audience from all perspectives were truly relevant and immensely crucial for the Chin people as a whole.

A prominent Chin political figure, Pu Lian Uk briefly emphasized the uniqueness of the Chins as a people with own culture, land and history, and expressed his hope to further secure this authenticity in a more understandable term, in the upcoming Chin Historical Seminar.

Salai Kipp Kho Lian, Coordinator of Chin Forum, exposed the work undertaken by the Chin Forum team and expressed his honor for the timely publication of the fifth initial draft of Chinland Constitution within a ten-year spanning period of its existence. He strongly encouraged all the participants to be fully aware of the tenet of democracy and federal principles, and emphasized the importance of their practical applications, for congregating the present dispersed Burmese democratic forces with new strategies and approaches by strengthening ‘needed unity’ among different parties and stakeholders.

Professor Salai Tun Than in particularly impressed the audience with his forceful words, saying: “I am not a politician, but I fight the military regime for the cause of justice against injustice. I will fight till my last breath as to die for good cause is worthy. If we are daring, the enemy is afraid of us and if we are timorous, the enemy will persecute us. Like a motto saying ‘Few daring are always the majority’, if at least two hundred people are daring to die like me, I am sure this democracy struggle against the dictatorship rule will be won.”

Salai Bawi Lian Mang, Director of Chin Human Right Organization (CHRO), highlighted how destitute the Chin people in Burma are under the military regime. Salai Bawi said: “The Burmese military junta’s systematic violations of human rights record on the Chins over a long period have now transformed thousands of the Chins to become refugees in different parts of the world. And presently at least 200,000 people, about 20% of the whole Chin population from 200 villages, are suffering from cute famine. Instead of giving relief aids to the famine victims, the SPDC is now prohibiting the operation of relief aids in some townships like Matupi, Falam and Kanpalet. Hence, it is our national responsibility to help our people out from starvation, with the best means and ways of our capacities.”

Dr. Tint Swe of NLD- MP, a leading political figure among India-based Burmese democratic activists also expressed his inspiration for the meeting and his hope for a positive turnout from it.

The meeting was successfully concluded at 5:00 pm with thanksgiving prayer led by Dr. Run Bik.

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