62nd Chin National Day, 20 February 2010, Melbourne, Australia
Sponsored by Chin Festivals Celebration Committee (CFCC), Melbourne , Australia .
Ladies, Gentleman and Honoured guests,
Today, we celebrate the 62nd anniversary of our Chin National Day to commemorate the collaborated effort of the Chin people to end the autocratic-feudal system, and chose to practice the democratic system of government in our land. The Chin National Day did not come into being accidentally out of narrow nationalism and patriotism, but it came into existence as a result of the slow and steady struggle against the hereditary feudal system and colonialism.
We, the Chin Community of Melbourne thank you so much for joining us in this celebration of our native festival. Your presence here is much honoured and appreciated, as it is a source of courage and strength for us here and for the Chin people at home, in our struggle for democracy and freedom against the Burmese military dictatorship. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to CFCC for giving me this opportunity to give a special speech on this auspicious occasion.
Please allow me to mention briefly the history of the Chin people. The Chins are the original inhibiters in the present Chinland and we were always independent and sovereign nation before we were defeated by the British colonial power. It was ruled in many principalities by the Chin native aristocratic rulers in hereditary Chieftainship system. Though it was ruled in many principalities, those rulers were all united and formed alliances with one another against their common enemies outside their common frontiers especially against the British invasion. During British rules, the Chin territory was divided into three territories under three different countries of Burma , India and Bangladesh .
The Chin territory on Burma side joined other ethnic nationalities such as Burman, Kachin, Shan, etc. to build a federal Union , and signed Panglong Agreement. The Union of Burma declared independence on 4th January1948 as a new country under Panglong Agreement. To decide the future administration system of Chin state, Chin Hills Enquiry Commission was formed with three members on 5 February 1948 . The Commission recommended the introduction of the rule of democratic system in lieu of hereditary feudal system of administration and to grant compensation to the chiefs and headmen.
A special conference was held in Falam from 19 to 22 February, 1948 with 5000 strong delegates from all over Chin state. On this day “20 February” at Falam conference, the Chin native aristocratic ruling class and their subjects in great unity adopted a resolution that people’s representatives elected by the Chin population would run at every level of the administration in the Chin territory. It is landmark in the history of Chin Hills because it was the first time that all the Chins were able to hold the general meeting and achieves national unity and solidarity among them.
On 9 October 1950 , the Chin Affairs Council decided officially to honour 20th Feb as Chin National Day. The first Chin National Day was celebrated in Mindat, on grand scale on 20 Feb 1951 . Messages of congratulations were received from the President and many Ministers of the States of the Union of Burma. U Nu, Prime Minister of UB attended the celebration of Chin National Day personally and he also read the message of the President of the Union of Burma. Today Chin National Day becomes one of the most celebrated traditional festivals for the Chin people, wherever they are.
My fellow Chins,
During the past fifty years successive military and dictatorial governments in Burma attempted several times to abolish the political significance of our National Day by changing it into Chin State Day. Chin State has come into existence under section 30(B) of the Constitution of the Union of Burma which was adopted only on 3 January 1974 . If one wants to celebrate Chin State Day, he/she is free to do so and celebrate on 3rd January, which has no political significance and thus meaningless for the Chin people. Celebrating Chin National Day symbolise the fact that we are the people with a Nation. That’s why the Burmese military government did not allow the people in Chin state to hold the national day as the “Chin National Day” and instead told them to call it the “Chin State Day”. For instance, in Haka, capital of Chin state, 61st Chin National Day celebration organizers were told to call “Chin Culture Day”. It is ashamed and ridiculous to learn that Chin students at various Universities in Burma celebrate our National Day as “Freshers Welcome Party”.
In the midst of such hostile environments, the Chin people have been united to stand together against the political assault on our people. It is therefore, the national duty of all Chins to safeguard its National Day, to preserve and maintain its culture, language and literature if we would like to keep our Chin identity among the family of nations. Today, the unity, solidarity and the patriotism of the Chin people has been shown by the fact that the Chins in Chinland as well as outside Chinland are celebrating our Chin National Day at this very moment.
Our aim and object to celebrate the Chin National Day festival as our tradition in our diasporas countries everywhere around the world is thus to strengthen unity among Chin people in all aspects and to gather support from all the democratic and justice loving people of the world in our struggle for democracy and self determination in federalism against the Burmese militarism. By celebrating Chin National Day, the new generation can witness not only the traditional and cultural events of their roots, but also meet with other people of the same roots from all walks of life, increasing the desire in them to appreciate their identity with their roots. Children of Chin parents abroad become proud of their roots as Chins people; they began to identify themselves firmly in their roots from where they came in relation to their Diasporas countries.
My fellow Chins,
Today we are living in post modern era. In this post modern era, if we would like to see development in our Chinland, if we would like to witness Chin people being respected among other nationalities, if we wish to see democracy, freedom and equality flourish in our motherland, we should and we must strive to acquire knowledge, advanced technology, technical know-how, to help build our Chinland, to develop human capacity among Chin people that will help us achieve greater development, to stand tall among nations.
On this auspicious occasion of the 62nd anniversary of Chin National Day, I would like to urge my fellow Chins to assume our respective roles in working together for:
(a) the promotion of Chin National unity
the promotion of Chin National dignity
the freedom of the Chin people
to strive for greater National and human development
Note: drake Says:
February 24th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
khawi a din nge chin national day chu!! chin ho chu la rei vak lo tihna nge, chhinlung hunlai kha a kum pawh hria an awm mi le??? “. Zawhna a chhang fuh ang em aww.
e-mail a ka dawn ania tah ka rawn chhawp chhuak ta mai.
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February 25th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
1st, ka hman deuh hunah uluk takin ka chhiar anga, ka comment chauh ang…
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February 25th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
1948 ah maw an lo in din tan tawh a, thu thiamte khan han sawisel teh u, thawk a phita “thenawm unaute tawrhna” kan ti zel ang a..nakin lawkah tuikuk unaute hi chu kan tihna a nilo a nia kan ti leh tho tho dawn a ang.
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February 25th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Kan lawmpui hl mai keini pian ve hma daih atrang tawhin he ni bik hi lo hman a lo ni reng mai. Unau kan ni tih hi ka pawm thlap mai.
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February 25th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Chin tih hi Mizo tih aia piang hmasa a ni a, hnam dangin Zohnahthlak ho zawng zawng min hriat dan hming a ni. Khawchhak Zohnahthlak zawng khi Chin tih hian a huam tel vek. Zohnahthlak thlangtla ho pawh thlang an tlak hma zawng zawng kha chuan hnam dangin Chin tih a koh vek kan ni. Mizo leh Chin hi HNAM HRANG CHIPENG HRANGAH NGAIH TUR A NI LO. A huapzo dan hi inthuhmun reng a ni a, mimal ngaihdan mawlte te hovin kan sawr zim mai mai zawk a ni. Mizo History chhui dawn chuan Mizo tih a chhui chuan Triau ral khi a kai trawk ang a, Chin tiha chhui dawn chuan thui feee kan chhui thei awm e.
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February 25th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Identity chu time and space azirin inthlak danglam reng thei a ni. Chin tih hi Burma ho min koh dan a ni. Mahse, khatih lai khan Chin tih hi engzat chiahin nge hmang ang tih hi zawhna awm thei a ni. Chuvangin, Chin hi colonial ho in official takin an hmang tan a.
Tuna Mizoram bik hi Lushai Hills tih ni mahse, Mizo hnam chibing tamtak khan Mizo an lo inti ngei tawh tih a lang. (Mizo zirtirh bu, Mizo Laishuih etc)
Enpawhnise, Mizo leh Chin debate hian awmzia a nei lutuk lo mai thei. Engtin nge kan hman a, engtin nge kan huap tir a. Engtin nge Mizo hnahthlak ten kan pawm tlan tih lam hi pawimawh a ni.
Zo hnahthlak hian hnam khat kan nih chu pawm tlang, mahse nomenclature ah hian kan lungawi tlang lo niin alang.
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February 25th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Chin leh tuna Mizoram hi engtikah nge kha British ho khan an thenhran le – Mizoram pawh reilote chu Assam leh Sylhet ah rorel awlsam nan an beh hran tir kha :?: 1894/5/6 hma nge a hnuah khan aw, chhiar na kha a rei tawh em ani :?:
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February 25th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
deleted
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February 25th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
A khai a, titi zauna tur an rawn phawrh ve a ni mai alawm le. Midang pawhin topic mil lo an sawi ve nawk thin asin…chepahatkhatte..chutia patlingin lunglohah lak mai tur a ni lo:) ngaidam siam rawh..:)
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February 25th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
@chepa, tupui fun chu eng i tihna ni maw, thupui fun ani zawk lo maw
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February 25th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
An thil tum (?) chu a huphurhawm hlawm hmel:
(a) the promotion of Chin National unity: Chin Hills is part of Union of Myanmar, one of the most undemocratic nation in the world.
the promotion of Chin National dignity: Dignity ? Are you sure ? Under General Thanh Shwe and other brass?
the freedom of the Chin people: Not in the near future. The Army has no plan to relinquish power that soon. At least Karens are fighting. But Chins from Melbourne ?
to strive for greater National and human development: Myanmar could have a bright future despite dark past. But in that part of the world, democracy is less important than GDP growth.
Good luck fellas. You need lots of it.
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February 25th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Gud luck (think u’ll need it)
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February 25th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
@chepa, i sawi dik khawp e tihrual in he a ziaktu pa hi ka dil ka lo post dawn ania misual(dot)com lamah an zawhna i ziah hian a chhanfuh deuhber hmel in ka hria. Ti in ka dila ani pawn lo post maita che ti in mi a hriat tir vang zawk anie. Tih ruali’n Note: a ka dahdan ah khian a fel lohna vak ka hre lo. Zawhna leh Chhanna ani mai lawm ni keima chhanna ni lo vin Salai Pa Hmun-a chhanna message ani maie.
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February 25th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
@Epist, lungloah ka la hran lo a nia. Ka post pawh a nihran lova, misual nawmna hi a bo ang tih ka hlauh vangin intitatu takin admins ho thawnrawn ka pe mawi zawk a nia.
Zawhna mawlmang lutuk hi chu a psot-tu post a nih loh chuan, comment lam ziak zawk ila ka tihna mai a ni e. Comment-ah chuan keipawh a OT hlei hlei thin a lawm ka ni le.
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February 25th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
@flying, sorry lutuk, nangma dah a ni maw? Admins ho dah emaw ka ti a.
Sorry admins zawng zawng ka tisual palh a ni e.
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February 25th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
@sony “.c) the freedom of the Chin people: Not in the near future. The Army has no plan to relinquish power that soon. At least Karens are fighting. But Chins from Melbourne ?”.
Karen hochiah in an Fight lo tih a lanna ani mai lawngmaw, Karen ai a Army ngah, Kachin te pawh an la awm. Chin National Front, etc pawn Army nei in an bei ve tho a lawm.
Melbourne lam a trang in khawvel hriat ah thu, (voice, Peaceful meaning”.) in an thawkve tihna ani maia. An mawhphurhna hna an ti tihna ani mai lawm ni.
@chepa- aw nie.
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February 25th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Melbourne atanga campaign chu tha tho ve. Media lamin an ignore anih ngawt loh chuan.
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February 25th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
@sony, Burma minority hnam ho zawng zawng hian sawrkar hi an do vek Helpawl an awm vek, Shan ho hian Helpawl group-3, Karen hian group-3 vel tho niin ka hria,Kanchin ho pawh halpawl group-3 vel, Pa Uh, Palawng, Wa, Kukan, Rhakhai,Mon,Kaya & Chin zawng hian Helpawl an nei vek.
Chutiangzelin, ram chhungah tharum tawhin zalenna an sual a, ram pawn atang theitawp chhuahin mahni hnam theuh leh Burmese community zawng pawn ram zalen turin an thawk theuh bawk a ni.
Chin National Front / Chin National Army
For more than a decade, soldiers have tried to coerce ethnic Chins, who are mainly Christian, to convert to the country’s majority Buddhist faith and otherwise “Burmanize” the population of Chin Division, located on the western border with India.
The Chin National Front (CNF) was created in March 1988. In 1987, Chin nationalists took the decision to join an armed coalition against Burma’s central government and fight for more autonomy for the various ethnic minority groups represented by the coalition. In 1988, many young Chin fled to the Burma-India border due to pro-democracy unrest in Burma, and some joined the CNF. At first the CNF had no army, but in November 1988 the CNF created the Chin National Army (CNA). A 2002 Human Rights Watch report describes the CNA as being about “500 strong”. Since 1989, the CNF has been a member of Burma’s National Democratic Front (NDF), which is made up exclusively of non-Burman ethnic armed opposition groups. The CNF also represents the Chin people in the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), a UN-styled organization based in Hawaii that includes nations and peoples not represented in the UN . On its website, the CNF states that the group has testified before the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations. While other ethnic-based armed movements have signed peace deals with the Burmese government, the CNF/CNA have not, and sporadic fighting in Chin state continued as of early 2004. There is a great deal of resultant displacement among the local Chin population, many of whom have fled to India, Malaysia, Canada, the US, and elsewhere. The trend toward ceasefires between ethnic opposition forces and the Burmese government appeared to be increasing, although relations between the government and armed groups is subject to flux. The CNF was one of only four main forces not to have ceasefires with the government, but two of these— the Karen National Union and Karenni National Progressive Party— were having talks with the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council, or Government of Burma]. In 2004, the SPDC appeared very keen to try and achieve as much peace as possible, prior to pushing ahead with a roadmap for political reform. There have been unsubstantiated allegations of drug and arms trafficking by the CNA, but the US State Department does not have information suggesting that the CNF or CNA have been involved in terrorist activities or in abuses against civilians on any large or systematic scale. Generally, the CNA does not control large amounts of territory, and its main targets have been military since its inception. CNF leaders claim that such tactics have been employed to prevent conflict in civilian areas as well as the targeting of the civilian population in revenge tactics. The CNF is generally viewed as a benign and unifying force among the Chin, but the Chin are a very heterogeneous group and that there are some who believe that the CNF has brought trouble to the Chin by attracting more Burmese government forces to the Chin state. One rarely hears of specific abuses by CNF/CNA personnel, but such abuses usually seem to involve extortion— excessive tax collection from villagers, and interference with cross-border trade. The taxation may be part of CNF/CNA policy, but the abuse of civilians is certainly not, and is a divergence from discipline by individual soldiers. The CNA currently operates largely as an intelligence-gathering underground resistance, with limited ambush-type attacks against Burma Army forces. There is widespread support for the CNF/CNA, particularly among young, educated Chins, who often furnish non-military support and information to the CNF/CNA or distribute CNF printed materials, and are at severe risk for that reason. It is difficult to estimate how much popular support the CNF enjoys. The local Chin population chafes at the military response the CNA’s armed struggle has invited from the Burmese government and feels that the cycle of violence has proven difficult to stop. In 1999, the Burmese government accused the CNF of killing a Buddhist monk on the Burma-India border— a charge the CNF denied. Responding to allegations that civilians had been killed by CNA landmines or been shot by CNA fighters, a CNA colonel stated in an interview with CHINLAND GUARDIAN that any such incidents would have been accidents and that the CNA does not target civilians. The CNA had closed border trade between India and Burma. CNA policy is to discipline any soldiers who may commit “mistakes” or “misbehave”. In general, the CNF struggle is home-grown. There is no indication of contacts between the CNF/CNA and militant groups in India or Bangladesh. There are ties between the CNF/CNA and the Mizos of India, who are closely ethnically related to the Chin, and are located just across the border from Chin state. The CNF has always been careful to focus on Burma, and its pre-eminent relations have been with such fronts as the ethnic National Democratic Front (NDF) and the National Council Union of Burma, which includes such pro-democracy groups as the National Coalition Government Union of Burma that maintains an office in Washington DC. While the current trend is toward cease-fire agreements between opposition groups and the Burmese government, armed ethnic politics have been a regular feature in Burma’s political context over the past few decades and the authority of these groups has been recognized not only by the Burmese government but by the UN and other members of the international community.
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February 25th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
@flying ka chiang ta deuh e!!
chuan chin national day chu refugee deuh bik tan ani mai tihna ani em? tun ah rih mai chuan. Ngatinge British chuan chin ram chu Burma ah kher a dah bik , Chinland(independent) pek mai awm!! Tiang bawk hian Mizoram pawh hi, Hongkong ang khan min lo la mai se tha awm sia..
nways…thx @flymek :lol:
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February 25th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
chhangte_ll,#6 i zawhna hi…
Thlangtla ho kha an lal tam ber te Mizoram area a mi kha Lusei lal an nih vang a ni thei ang. Lusei vek emaw tiin “Lushai” an tlang hming chawi tir ta ngawt a nih reng kha. An hriat loh vang a ni e.
Thil sawifiah awlsam ber te zing a mi a ni ngei ang, negative zawnga lak tum talh tan pawn.
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February 25th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Chin national Day = Zo/ Zomi/ Mizo national Day
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February 25th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Thusawitu address dan ka chhiar tan phat hian HMEICHHE AWM KHAWM CHIAM kara mipa riang tak tel ve emaw ka ti hial a … :lol:
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February 25th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
CHIN NATIONAL DAY = BURMA LAIMI NI
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February 26th, 2010 at 12:36 am
“The Chins are the original INHIBITERS in the present Chinland and we were always independent and sovereign nation before we were defeated by the British colonial power”
INHIBITERS hi eng e niang aw ka lo ti ve mai mai?
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February 26th, 2010 at 12:40 am
Tarmit, English word thar a nih kha, Sexpiara pawn a thawnthu ziah ah thu thar asiam teuh kha
hairehai
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February 26th, 2010 at 3:58 am
@drake Says:
February 25th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
@flying ka chiang ta deuh e!!
chuan chin national day chu refugee deuh bik tan ani mai tihna ani em? tun ah rih mai chuan. Ngatinge British chuan chin ram chu Burma ah kher a dah bik , Chinland(independent) pek mai awm!! Tiang bawk hian Mizoram pawh hi, Hongkong ang khan min lo la mai se tha awm sia..
nways…thx @flymek :lol: “.
Chin National Day hi Chin Refugee te ta deuhbik kher ani lo tih chu a chiang vek lawm ni chhiar deuhla.
Engvang in nge Chin state chu Burma ramah an dah bik kher? tihzawhna pawh hi a chung a ziaktu pakhian a ziak vek tawh thoa zawhna chi leh chhanchi ah ka ngai lo.:P
Mizoram state/Lushai Hills pawh engvang in nge Hongkong ang in minla maise a tha awmsia tih hi a tu a te man kan duh tak tak chuang lo ang. Chu ai chuan “Engvang in nge Kanram hi kan Kut ah; an nghah/dah mai loh le? ti zawk in ti deih zawk i la a thra zawk ang em?
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