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Mizzima: Chins celebrate National D
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Chins celebrate National Day in New Delhi
New Delhi, February 20, 2001
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
More than five hundred Chins who are taking shelter in India celebrated
the 53rd Anniversary of Chin National Day this morning in New Delhi.
Amidst beautiful traditional music and dances presented by Chin women
and men and with the political speeches delivered by various
anti-Burmese junta groups, the Chin National Day was celebrated and
joined by Chins and their fellow countrymen Arakans, Shans and Burmans.
Some political leaders from Mizoram State of India also participated in
the celebration.
Speaking at the function, Mr. Holkhomang Haokip, a Member of Parliament
(Lok Sabha) elected from Manipur State of India highlighted the lack of
democracy and fundamental human rights in Burma. ?In India, we enjoy
democracy. Sometimes there are bad politicians but democracy is better
than any other system. I prey for the establishment of democracy in
Burma?, he said in his Chief Guest?s address.
In a statement issued today, the ?Celebration Committee? of the Chin
National Day said that successive governments of Burma have imposed
different restrictions on or prohibited celebrations of Chin National
Day inside Burma. ?The parliament in 1956, 1957 and 1958 consecutively
prohibited celebration of the national day and attempted to nullify it.
>From 1966, the Revolution Council had planned to celebrate the national
day as Special Division Day?, said the statement.
The Chin National Council, one of the Chin organizations formed outside
Burma, today demanded the ruling junta the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) in Burma that it allows the Chin National Day to be
celebrated inside Burma without fear and intimidation, to stop all human
rights violations such as forced labour and religious persecution in
Chin State and to end the civil war in the country.
The Chins, who are mostly Christians, are one of the ethnic minority
nationalities in Burma, which achieved Independence from British in
1948. They alleged that the Chins have been oppressed in various ways by
the successive governments in Rangoon. They have been demanding for the
self-determination and establishment of a genuine Federal Union in
Burma.
Burma has been ruled by the military dictatorship since 1962 and the
present military junta, SPDC, came into power by a coup in 1988 after
the crack down on a pro-democracy movement.
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<font color="#3333FF"><font size=+2>Chins celebrate National Day in New
Delhi</font></font>
<p><font color="#FF0000">New Delhi, February 20, 2001</font>
<br><font color="#FF0000">Mizzima News Group</font> (<a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>www.mizzima.com</a>)
<p>More than five hundred Chins who are taking shelter in India celebrated
the 53rd Anniversary of Chin National Day this morning in New Delhi. Amidst
beautiful traditional music and dances presented by Chin women and men
and with the political speeches delivered by various anti-Burmese junta
groups, the Chin National Day was celebrated and joined by Chins and their
fellow countrymen Arakans, Shans and Burmans. Some political leaders from
Mizoram State of India also participated in the celebration.
<p>Speaking at the function, Mr. Holkhomang Haokip, a Member of Parliament
(Lok Sabha) elected from Manipur State of India highlighted the lack of
democracy and fundamental human rights in Burma. ?In India, we enjoy democracy.
Sometimes there are bad politicians but democracy is better than any other
system. I prey for the establishment of democracy in Burma?, he said in
his Chief Guest?s address.
<p>In a statement issued today, the ?Celebration Committee? of the Chin
National Day said that successive governments of Burma have imposed different
restrictions on or prohibited celebrations of Chin National Day inside
Burma. ?The parliament in 1956, 1957 and 1958 consecutively prohibited
celebration of the national day and attempted to nullify it. From 1966,
the Revolution Council had planned to celebrate the national day as Special
Division Day?, said the statement.
<p>The Chin National Council, one of the Chin organizations formed outside
Burma, today demanded the ruling junta the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) in Burma that it allows the Chin National Day to be celebrated
inside Burma without fear and intimidation, to stop all human rights violations
such as forced labour and religious persecution in Chin State and to end
the civil war in the country.
<p>The Chins, who are mostly Christians, are one of the ethnic minority
nationalities in Burma, which achieved Independence from British in 1948.
They alleged that the Chins have been oppressed in various ways by the
successive governments in Rangoon. They have been demanding for the self-determination
and establishment of a genuine Federal Union in Burma.
<p>Burma has been ruled by the military dictatorship since 1962 and the
present military junta, SPDC, came into power by a coup in 1988 after the
crack down on a pro-democracy movement.
<p> </html>
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