Zofate zinga St.Stephen Award, Norway ram a dawng hmasa ber thusawi!.

November 13th, 2010 7:00 pm by flying

By Victor Biak Lian

9 November, 2010, Oslo, Norway

Thank you very much for selecting me as the recipient of the St. Stephen award. There are many individuals, organizations and groups that I have to thank for their support, and recognition. In mid May, I received a call from my friend Mr. Ed Brown of the Norwegian Mission to the East to offer me the award. I was very surprised. What came to mind immediately was the fact that it is not my individual efforts that should be recognized but rather the efforts of all my colleagues and friends who are equally committed to the cause of the disenfranchised and suffering communities of Burma. It is with humility and them in mind that I accept this award.

First of all, many people in this room may not know much about me. I would like to introduce myself and tell you about my engagement in the struggle for democracy, freedom and human rights in Burma since the very beginning, in 1988.

I was a final year student at Rangoon University when the nationwide uprising began in Burma in 1988. As a young student and an ethnic nationalist, I took part in the demonstrations. At this time, there was a lot of anger against the government. The year before, the government demonetized the country’s currency without providing advance warning or compensation for lost savings. Imagine for a moment, if that happened in Norway, how would people respond? This has happened many times in Burma. I experienced it in 1987- overnight I had no money to pay for the bus or for food. Millions of people went empty-handed.

That was the true beginning of the 88 uprising. Then in March a student from the Rangoon Institute of Technology was shot dead by riot police for protesting against the government. When this happened, the anger of the students was beyond the control of the government, and the uprising spread like wild fire throughout the whole country. In March, the University closed down after riot police stormed the main campus, forcing the students to disperse. After the University closed, all the ethnic students were ordered to return to their homes. As an ethnic Chin, I headed to my native home in Hakha in the remote, western hills of Chin State.

But sending us home did not silence us. Popular uprisings broke out across the whole country on 8 of August, 1988 known as 8888, including in my homeland where I became one of the student leaders. In Hakha, we marched in the street demanding an end to military rule. But at midnight on 15 August, 1988, I was arrested by local police and military intelligence together with 9 other students. We were kept in the police lock up, but the next day the whole town came to demand our release. Unable to control the crowd, the police released us.

For the next two months, I lead demonstrations throughout Chin State. After the military coup in September, it became very unsafe to remain in the country as military intelligence began hunting down the student leaders responsible for organizing the demonstrations. Many of us including myself fled to a border town in India called Champhai in Mizoram State. Here, we all gathered together and asked the Government of India to open a refugee camp for us.

I stayed in this camp for 3 months and then left for the China border together with about 70 of my colleagues, to join a group of ethnic Kachin who were developing strategies to oppose the military. That was how I started to learn about the situation in other ethnic areas and especially in the conflict zones. I walked for more than 80 days toward China from India, and another 100 days to go to the Bangladesh border from China via the India border.

During my travels, I saw many villages that had been burnt down by the military regime. Many villages were empty as people fled into hiding in advance of military patrols. I saw children portering heavy loads for the Burma Army in the conflict areas. Sometimes no food was available. I remember one time, we had hardly anything to eat for 40 consecutive days. I saw many children crying, and dying. There was little I could do. I was half-dead myself due to starvation. There are so many difficult stories to tell.

I left Burma again in 1992 and became a refugee under UNHCR in Delhi for 5 years. I worked for the refugee community in Delhi, and as a refugee I helped establish the Chin Human Rights Organization along with several colleagues. Finally, in 1997 my wife and I resettled to Canada through Church sponsorship.

But being a world away did not silence me. I continued to engage in advocacy with the international community to bring attention to the struggle for democracy and ethnic unity in Burma. In 2004, I returned to Asia with my wife to volunteer for one year for the democracy movement. But that was 6 years ago and I’m still volunteering.

Unfortunately, in the years since I left Burma, the reign of terror perpetrated by the regime has affected hundreds of thousands of its citizens. Today, CHRO continues to document the suffering of the Chin people on the western front. The kind of human rights violations suffered by my people today are the same as those that have been extensively reported among ethnic Karen, Shan, and Karenni on the eastern border. These violations include arbitrary arrest and detention, forced labor, torture, rape and extrajudicial executions.

Chin people today estimate that around 90 percent of Chins are Christians. Christianity is an integral part of our culture for many Chins. Sadly, religious persecution at the hands of the military regime is a matter of primary concern among my people.

The authorities have destroyed Christian crosses erected by churches on hilltops throughout Chin State, most recently in July this year. Construction of new church buildings is prohibited. Christians must obtain prior authorization for even renovation of church buildings, which is virtually impossible. In remote villages and other rural areas in Chin State, army units on patrols have frequently mistreated, assaulted and tortured Christian pastors.

It is very risky for us to document these human rights violations. I believe many violations have never been reported, due to the risks involved. Successive UN Human Rights Rapporteurs on Burma have criticized the most egregious violations committed by the regime. Many governments and the United Nations have expressed their concern and condemnation of the systematic and targeted violations against civilians and the complete impunity enjoyed by the regime. And yet little has changed.

As a result, more than 140,000 refugees languish on the Thai-Burma border in 9 refugee camps, providing a clear example that many citizens are not safe in their own country. Hundreds of thousands of villagers in the border areas are living as internally displaced persons. Over the past 10 years, more than 100,000 refugees have poured into Malaysia to seek refugee status, around half of them Chin. Hundreds of thousands more struggle for survival in India and Bangladesh.

The route out of Burma and into exile is not easy. Refugees are forced to rely on human traffickers. Many have vanished between Thailand and Malaysia. The Chin Human Rights Organization has recorded the stories of Chin who have been sold into slavery on Thai fishing boats, and have miraculously managed to escape. There are reports of women being sold to brothels. Women are at high risk of abuse by brokers promising to smuggle them into safety.

I personally know several incidents of people who have died trying to get to Malaysia. In 2006, 40 people vanished in the Bay of Bengal when their small boat carrying more than 100 people was crushed by a fishing boat on Christmas Eve. Just this past May, 13 Chin, including several women and children, were killed in a horrific car accident while trying to enter into Malaysia with the help of human smugglers. After being identified by the police, the driver refused to stop and a high-speed chase ensued, ending in the car flipping and hitting a tree after the police shot out a tire. 9 people died on the spot while 9 others suffered serious injuries; 4 more succumbed to their injuries and died in the hospital including 3 children. The rest survived but were arrested by the Thai police.

When I heard about the accident, I immediately rushed to meet the survivors in jail. I could see in their eyes that they expected something from me. One young boy rushed to me and asked “where are my uncle and brother?â€�A woman near him whispered to me that they died on the spot, and I realized that they must have been among the 13 bodies lying in the Buddhist monasteries. I couldn’t say a word to the boy. How could I tell him he would never see his brother and his uncle again?

It is not difficult to understand what forces hundreds of people to risk their lives every day to make this kind of journey. Aung San Suu Kyi once said that “we are prisoners of our own countryâ€� which is true for the entire population in Burma. More than 2200 political prisoners are still being detained, demonstrating that the regime continues to be intolerant of political opposition. Some have been sentenced to 100 years imprisonment. Many suffer medical conditions, but are denied medical treatment by the authorities and refused permission to see their relatives and loved ones.

People live in extreme poverty. Food insecurity is everywhere in the country. Malnutrition rates are alarmingly high, particularly in the ethnic areas and conflict zones. Many households struggle from constant food shortages. For the past three years, large areas of Chin State have been devastated by a food crisis brought on by a rat infestation. In response to such humanitarian crises, the military government does nothing to assist the affected population, and instead continues to violate their rights with impunity.

Despite the desperate poverty experienced by much of the population, in 2007 the military regime removed fuel subsidies causing the price of diesel and petrol to sky rocket. If this kind of government action took place here in this country, how would citizens respond? The response in Burma was the 2007 Saffron Revolution. Instead of bringing about a much hoped for change in the country, the revolution resulted in hundreds dead including monks at the hands of the military regime.

The problems we are facing are not easy to bear and they are many. They are real and not easy to solve. But I believe they can be solved.

You may know that 2 days ago, there was an election held by the regime in Burma. This was the first election held in Burma for the last 20 years. Two decades ago, the result of the 1990 election, in which the National League for Democracy won by a landslide, was not honored. Instead many were arrested and Aung San Suu Kyi the leader of the NLD was put under house arrest where she has remained for 13 years. In the follow-up to this election, many speculate that Aung San Suu Kyi might be released on 13 November. I pray that the speculation may become true.

What we do know is that the 7 November 2010 elections are designed to give legitimacy to the military government in Burma. We all know that it will not lead to democracy. Like the 1990 elections, the military will still be in control after the elections. There will most likely be a shift from direct and full military control, to indirect but full control.

On the other hand, the elections may provide a limited opportunity for the ethnic communities to once again legitimately fight for their rights through a controlled political process. Some ethnic communities participated and contested in the elections to make use of their right to legitimately represent their communities and promote the concept that governments must be elected by the people. They also believe that people have the right to choose their representatives and hope that they’ll be able to push for incremental reforms. We can only hope that this process will open the door for positive change in Burma.

Civil war can be broke out throughout the country any time soon as many ethnic ceasefire groups rejected the proposal of their army to transform into “Border Guard Forceâ€� under their command without any political dialogue and settlement.

We will be watching carefully as the political landscape unfolds. We will continue to press for justice and accountability for human rights violations; national reconciliation; and genuine democracy. We have to remain hopeful. Change that is small and slow can quickly become big and widespread. I believe that one day this change will come and that I may return to my homeland- not as a Chin or an ethnic national but as a member of a unified, free, and democratic Burma.

Dear friends, in my conclusion, I would like to thank Norwegian Mission to the East leaders for this award for which I feel so honored. My friends at CHRO who are wonderful people that I enjoy working with immensely. My colleagues at the Chin Forum who are unique nationalists and intellectuals and have taught me so much about our Chin constitution, history and so on but most important, they taught me how to be patient.

My thanks go to Mr. Harn Yawnghwe, director of Euro-Burma office in Brussels, who provided me with the opportunity to work with the National Reconciliation Programme and later with the Euro-Burma Office. His advice and expertise on Burma is invaluable to me. I cannot forget my co-workers from the Ethnic Nationalities Council and Chin National Council. You are my heroes. I am honored to be able to work with all of you and pledge to continue this work until our objectives are met.

Finally, I would like to thank Chin community in Norway who come here from near and far to join us in this event. I also would like to to thank my family for their kind support for all my work. My special thanks go to my wife Khuang Cin Par. Despite the many difficulties of being left alone so many times, both on her own and later with 2 kids, she has never said “NOâ€� to me when it came time for me to travel. Thank you.

Note: Private a ka dawn ka lawm pui em em leh ka chhuan em em ka rawn post chhawng ve.

Similar Posts:

Recent Posts:

144 Responses to “Zofate zinga St.Stephen Award, Norway ram a dawng hmasa ber thusawi!.”

Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All

  1. 101
    funny Says:

    Kan mindset hi ala hniam tih hi pawm tlang ila, khawvel zau zawk thlir thiam tur hian inzir zel ang u khai.

    [Report abuse]

  2. 102
    wonderboy Says:

    @flying, keipawn tiang rilru MAWL zet pu tur hian ka lo ring ngai miah lo che mu le…. cuan enghnam emaw in ti 3 hian min hnial rawn a in sual a ka cho a min hnek ngam miah lo mu le….akekekekeke

    Lungleiah pawh Mizo ngeiin tleirawl a pawngsual a, lunglei a ka chungte ngei pawng an hriat hmain ka hre daih toh. A awmzia chu mipui nawlpui in an hriat hma in Jail-ah an khung daih, ni lo se chuan KA mizo PUI NGEI HIAN BURMA MI a nih vang ni loving a thiltih duh dan avang in an chil hlum leh ngei ang.

    [Report abuse]

  3. 103
    STRIKE THR33 Says:

    HV says”Ram hrana awm vangin in koh dan adang mai a ni.” Pu HV,America ah khan Vangchhia hnam angin kan hrelo che u mizo angin kan rawn hre zawk che u.Enge a chhan? MIZO anga in intelkhawm vang ani,Chin ho chu Chin community angin sin an awm daih ram dangah pawh and its quite clear in the post itself– >”I would like to thank Chin community in Norway”

    HV says”we are what we are and we cannot change our DNA”. Miin ‘MIZO’ anga an kal duhloa hnam anga an kal tlat anih chuan eng angin DNA pawh lo inang mahse mizo ah ka pawm theilo.Thinlung hi DNA ai chuan a pawimawh zawk tlat si.

    [Report abuse]

  4. 104
    zodin Says:

    a lawmpui awm in a fakawm hle mai, zohnahthlak te min ti hmingtha tu ni zel teh se. Amen.

    [Report abuse]

  5. 105
    funny Says:

    Zanin chu wonderboy hi a pawr riau mai, a chhas in a ban rilru na vel aniang, thenkhatin an chhas te rilru na taka nupui an neih san laiin :D

    [Report abuse]

  6. 106
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    STRIKE THR33, Ram 2, India leh Burma atanga Zohnahthlak kal te kan ni hlawm. Mizoram lama kal emaw Mizoram lama tawng tualleng hmang ten Mizo Society kan nei ang hian, Burma lama Zohnahthlak te, Tawngbil la hmang te pawn an tawng hmang ho intelkhawm nan society ang chu an nei ve ngei e, a dik. Hemi avang hian kan inti hrangin mihrangah kan inen tihna lam a kawk lo. Thil tihkhawm, Mizo Day Chin Day etc ah kan in sawm tawn a,inneih/mitthi ralah kan in kal tawn bawk.

    Mizo ah pawm lo mahla, an nin Chin ah pawm lo bawk che mahse, mihrang in ni chuang miahlo. Ka sawi tawh angin, Nepali leh Gorkhali ang vel a ni e. Kan nihna hi kan pawm leh pawm loh lam a ni tlat lo mai… hetiang rilru nei nih hi a hahthlak awm ngawt mai.

    Kei chu ka buai velo, tihian hahdam takin ka awm mai, hrilh fiah chawp ngai, hrilhfiah theih siloh, mahni ngaihdan a kal bur te hian rilru erawh an ti hah thung. Mizorama Mizo inti zawng2 te hnam ang chiah chiah an ni tho. An mahni tawng bil an la thiam zawk lehnghal. Mizoram ah hian mahni tawng bil thiamlo hi kan va tam tawh awm tak e aw te ka ti mai mai, ngaih hlutna chang lah kan hre derlo. Kan thil hlui neih te lah chu kan thiat zel a, kan ti hmelhem a, huiham…

    Burma ram hi India ang emaw a aiin changkang zawk se chuan kan sawi buai vak miahin ka ringlo mawle, tlat mai a. Burma dinhmun a that lai chuan Mizoram leh Manipur atangin Zohnahthlak te an pem kir leh chur chur a nih kha mawle… kan tenawm mai mai niin ka hria. Thu dik hi ka ngaisang a, ka sawi huaiin ka tang huai bawk.

    [Report abuse]

  7. 107
    flying Says:

    @wonderboy: Kha kha a lawm kan duh loh reng chu ni!!!!Chilhlum an ngai lo kan ram Dan leh Dun in an chungthu a rel maitur zawk kha ani!. Lunglei lam pawngsualthu i sawi pawh kei pawn news ah chhuah hma in ka hria ve daih tawh. Tih rual News lam tiang vel a kaihnawih hi chu thiante zarah ka lo dawng ve zung2 zel.

    [Report abuse]

  8. 108
    funny Says:

    Muslim hel ho hian US ah hian buaina an siam nasa khawpa, Obama vethung chuan thuhnuai rawlh takin, “America is not your enemy” a ti daih. Kan YMA president ve chuan, “Mikhualin a thlenin sawisel lo se” ati thung… Mi tamtakin sawi thiam anti in anla ngaisang em em zui a… Kan mentality in thlauh zia chu a. A thalo zawnga in generalise phei hi chu thil thalo leh sensitive tak ani tih hi hre tlang ang u hmiang.

    Nobel Laureate, Dr.Watson-a (Sherlok Holmes ami nilo. hehehe) pawh khan an research tih vel atanga a ngaihdan innocent takin black lam ho chungchang a sawi ngawt a, a lecture tur zawng zawng an cancel saka a hna atangin an ban bawk… Hetiang tak hian racist ang zawnga thil sawi tehi a sensitive ani.

    [Report abuse]

  9. 109
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    funny hi i puitling thin riau ( i kerh kerh hnu pawh hian) :mrgreen:

    [Report abuse]

  10. 110
    wonderboy Says:

    thakthing a naupang pawangsual tu kha Police chhuizui ngai khawp in a awm a, mipui thinrim a tawng lo mai mai a ni. A hnu lawkah naupang pawngsual a that zui bawk tu kha BURMA lammi a nih vang ni lovin MIZO MIPUI ten kumtlinglo pawngsual a thah bawk kan changkham vang zawk a ni e. BURMA lam ho kha in RACIST vang zawk a ni lo maw!!!!

    [Report abuse]

  11. 111
    funny Says:

    Pu HV. I’m not a girl :D
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAfG3iKZAGA

    Hairehai. hehehe :lol:

    [Report abuse]

  12. 112
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    wonderboy, mahni chipui te lakah a RACIST theih dawn em ni hairehai :mrgreen: NOI

    “A hnu lawkah naupang pawngsual a that zui bawk tu kha BURMA lammi a nih vang ni lovin MIZO MIPUI ten kumtlinglo pawngsual a thah bawk kan changkham vang zawk a ni e. ” a ni thei viau ang mahse, an ngaihtuah hman ka ring lemlo chutiang thleng2..hetiang thawhsarum ah hi chuan a au rinbg2 sawi angin an che hluai mai zel niin ka hria. Engpawh chu nise, i BOLD kher khian awmzia a neih hmel hairehai :D tra la la la la

    funny, min ti nui nasa lutuk. :lol: mahse i video ka en theilo ‘not available in your country’ a inti :(

    [Report abuse]

  13. 113
    funny Says:

    Pu.HV: Breitney-i hla I’m not a girl tih mai mai kha mawle. hehehe
    Not yet a woman. hehehe :D I nuihzat atan ka rawn dah ve mai mai. An inhnial thinrim dawn emaw ka tia fiamthu ka rawn thawh ve mai mai. hehehe :D
    I’m not a girl, not yet a woman;
    well, I’m in between.
    . Lolzzzz :D

    [Report abuse]

  14. 114
    wonderboy Says:

    @HV, theih tehreng e a…BURMA LAM ho hian kan tihsual a ni e, pawi kan lo khawih palh a ni e ti duh miah lo in in MIN HMUSIT, in RACIST an la tih zawrh2 ngam hi mawle…..

    @HV, MIZO TEN ENG NGE KAN THIAM LOH HMASAK A, BURMA HO LAK AH HIAN??? saalaa…

    [Report abuse]

  15. 115
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    wonderboy, Hindustani leh Burman ho kha inngeih dial dialin lo awm tawh rawh u, lo haw a chakawm loh zo dawn. :mrgreen: :(

    funny, he hla hi a thu uluk takin lo ngaithla teh aw hairehai tawp :mrgreen:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8y0JLPQl94

    [Report abuse]

  16. 116
    wonderboy Says:

    Nang a personal opinion avang khan MIZO diktak te hi kan ngawi mai mai dawn lo. BURMA ho hian awm dan chintawk in hre lo a nih chuan in CHAWH a ni mai. Tu nge thi pheng phung chu kan hre mai ang…hnawh chhuah a awm chu in hre mai ang….INTERNET kaltlang hian RAM rawn HMANGAIH TAWH SUH U!!!!!

    [Report abuse]

  17. 117
    funny Says:

    hairehai: Pu HV. An zaithiam phian lawi sia a. :D
    zan reiah ka nui tluk tluk mai. lolzzz

    [Report abuse]

  18. 118
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    wonderboy, internet leh chanchinbu te hmang lo chuan ram rawn hmangaih ngaihna vak a awm hrih lo a ni. Internet kan hmang tangkai ngawt asin, tha deuh a ni :D

    Pu Paula pawh khan internet ala nei si lova, Thesolonika mi te leh ram hrang hrang a hmangaih ho tan khan lehkha thawn sei deuh deuh a ziak a, thupui fun takin kan chhiar thlawr dup alawm mawle. :roll: Internet nei ngat sela chuan a che bawnra ngawt ta ve’ng :mrgreen:

    funny, Frank Zappa kha chu a dangdai ve alawm :D Teenage prostitute:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BO0MNKnwJ0

    Jesus think you’re a jerk:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQcE2dq3YD0

    [Report abuse]

  19. 119
    funny Says:

    Inva han inchhang thiam ve Pu HV :D
    Internet hmanglo tan pawh han tih vak ngaihna a awm chuanglo, kan thulo vai vai emai, ngaihdan lo sawi ve bak tih vak ngaihna a awm chuanglo :D

    [Report abuse]

  20. 120
    wonderboy Says:

    INTERNET hi hmang tangkai suh u kan ti lo, mahse thu chiang hre lo hian rawn KEIPUI sa hauh hmiah hmiah suh u kan ti mai zawk a ni e….!!! THU kalhmang hi in hre thiam lo tak tak nge in hre thiam lo DER????

    [Report abuse]

  21. 121
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    wonderboy, thudik ka sawi mai thin a ni. Ka sawi ah khian diklo i hriat chuan min correct rawh, ka lawm khawp ang. Tin, hetiang ah “keipui sa hauh” tawngkam an hman ngai ka hrelo :mrgreen: NOI Thu ka hriat chian loh chu min hrilh ta che…

    funny, opinion ai chuan fact ah hian tui zawk ila tiraw :D Fact hi kan hmuh kan lui ngat zel alawm :mrgreen: Burma lam Zohnahthlak te ai chuan eirukna, chapona, vervekna leh nun lem Mizoram a nasa lutuk hi ka ngai pawimawh.

    Mi’in Human Right activist nihna lama a thawh that Norway sawrkar in a hriat saka lawmman a hlan a, lo phun ve vak hi awmzia a awmlo chiang eee :lol:

    [Report abuse]

  22. 122
    wonderboy Says:

    @H.Vangchhia, ka zawhna zawng zawng ah khian min chhang em??? min chhan hunah BURMA MI hovin min zawhna khi ka chhang ve ang che!!!!

    mikhual te te si, naupang ka pawngsual e, ka that nghal e…in la ti ngam elo!!! BURMA mi ho khan….

    [Report abuse]

  23. 123
    wonderboy Says:

    Kan topic hi Henry VANGCHHIA, FLYING a ni lo tih kan sawi belh leh mai mai a nge :D

    [Report abuse]

  24. 124
    wonderboy Says:

    :mrgreen: Burma lam Zohnahthlak te ai chuan eirukna, chapona, vervekna leh nun lem Mizoram a nasa lutuk hi ka ngai pawimawh.

    real life chu thu hran , mi(sual )ah hian convince i la nei lo….

    [Report abuse]

  25. 125
    flying Says:

    @wonderboy: I in khawm dawn em? chhantlak ah ngaih tur ah ka ngaitawh lo che kan sawi ho zawng2 a tang khian thu kal lam leh haw lam chu a chiang thawkhat tawh. :D

    [Report abuse]

  26. 126
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    Sawi awm te te chu ka sawi vek tawhin, ka sawi nawn ngun tawh..kum hmasa lam atang tawhin, ka duh tawk e. Zohnahthlak te zawng2 karah hian khua a var angai a nih hi… sob sob :cry: kan tu te ah chuan hetiang rilru hi a awm tawh lo turah ngai ang, chuti lo zawng kan hnam hian ral lam apan dawn khawpin ka hria.

    Mi rilru hneh (convince) kher lo pawn thu dik chu auchhuah pui zel tur.

    Topic hi RENTHLEI pawh a ni biklo akekekekeke :mrgreen:

    [Report abuse]

  27. 127
    mzvision Says:

    https://bit.ly/cyNtez click this link for Victor’s picture

    A Chin human rights and democracy activist has been awarded the St. Stephen’s human rights award by the Norwegian Mission to the East (NMTE), a human rights group in Norway for “outstanding contribution to human rights, reconciliation and religious freedom in Burma.”

    Pu_VictorChin human rights activist Mr. Victor Biak Lian (45) has been involved in Burma’s pro-democracy movement for 22 years. He actively took part in the student-led nation-wide uprising in 1988, and subsequently fled to India following the brutal crackdown that left over 3000 dead in Burma according to Chinland Guardian news.

    The Norwegian Mission to the East is a missionary human rights organization that specializes in religious freedom. It is working to provide support, care and help to people and churches around the world, which are persecuted or oppressed because of their Christian faith.

    High Commissioner of OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) on National Minorities, Mr. Knut Vollebaek, who presented the award to the Chin recipient, said: “As much as I am honoured and pleased to have the opportunity to award this Prize to Victor Biak Lian today and to thank him, I am saddened that we still need these prizes to remind us and the world of human rights violations that continue to take place in many countries.”

    “Burma is in desperate need of change. I believe that efforts like those undertaken by today’s Prize Winner, efforts to strengthen respect for religious freedom and human rights and efforts to help unite various ethnic minorities in Burma, can play a crucial role in bringing about the change needed,” added Mr. Vollebaek.

    The ceremony, attended by more than 120 Chin and Norwegian participants was entertained with traditional songs and dances by Norway Chin Mission Church members in their national costumes and beautiful music by Helga Botn with Real Fake Band.

    Victor Biak Lian is the fourth recipient of the award in line with his three predecessors, Bishop Thomas from Egypt (2005), Doan Trung Tin from Vietnam (2007), and Tim A. Peters from the USA (2008) who works among refugees from North Korea

    The award consists of an artwork by Peter Grøstad, a diploma of Peter Mohn, and a monetary donation

    In the afternoon, Victor was giving a presentation on ‘Ethnic Nationalities of Burma: What can they contribute?’ alongside other key speakers including Ed Brown of NMTE; Ola Breidal from Department of Foreign Affairs; and Khin Maung Win, Assistant Director of DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma).

    Highlighting an in-depth historical and current situations of Burma including the recently held 2010 General Elections, Victor Biak Lian said the military regime is not planning to give up power, adding: “United vision, different roles, diverse action is needed.”

    During his stay in Norway, Victor Biak Lian is set to have a series of meetings with Department of Foreign Affairs, Burma Committee, the Norwegian Baptist Union (NBU), and Burmese and Chin communities based in Norway. He is also programmed to visit and speak at Chin and Norwegian churches, and Christian seminar.

    The Norwegian Mission to the East (NMTE), with its motto reading ‘Together for the persecuted’, is an Oslo-based Christian missions and human rights organisation, with a special focus on freedom of belief and religion. The NMTE is committed to providing support, care, and practical help for churches and individuals who are persecuted or oppressed because of their religious beliefs.

    Burma sawrkar hian NLD hi a tihduhdah dan hi a rapthlak hle. Zofate zingah phai chuan an tawrhna a hluar zual, hnam hnufual zawk leh minority nih vangin. Hetianga international level-a hriat phak tura Victora hnathawh hi a ropui kum 45 mi ani nasa leh zuala a thawh theih nan Lalpan malsawmin kaihruai zel rawh se.

    [Report abuse]

  28. 128
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    Mz—- last para khi ‘amen’

    [Report abuse]

  29. 129
    chawnghilh Says:

    Another NORWAY is our Phunchawng and Rangvamual Roads! :roll:

    [Report abuse]

  30. 130
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    :lol:

    [Report abuse]

  31. 131
    ZerO Says:

    Developed country-ah te, India ram State dangah te pawh crime rapthlak tak tak a thleng a, a thleng zel dawn. Khawvelin a ken tel a ni tlat. Mass killing tih te, gendercide tih te, serial killing tih te, a tam mai. School-a luhchilh a, naupang pawisawi lo silaia kap pawp pawp te pawh kan hria.

    India-a police tha ber leh kan population atanga chhuta police tam ber State-ah hian ‘Law and Order’ a fail thin erawh a pawi a ni.

    [Report abuse]

  32. 132
    kawlhawk Says:

    Tu emaw chu ka rin ai daihin a lo MAWL!!! Ruih lungpuam lai hi chuan hetiang topic hi kal kan daih a tha.

    [Report abuse]

  33. 133
    kawlhawk Says:

    Tu emaw chu rin ai daihin a lo MAWL pung pung ve!!! Ruih lungpuam lai hi chuan hetiang topic hi kal kan daih a tha.

    [Report abuse]

  34. 134
    chhana Says:

    kawlhawk@ tunge?

    [Report abuse]

  35. 135
    loneeagle26016 Says:

    Post reng2 hi han en ila,comment tawp lamah hi chuan a ‘topic’ ber pawh hi kan khel tawh thin lo, personal deuh2 a tawp loh leh a topic ken telloh deuh mai thil hian NOI zet hian a tawp ziah mai … :mrgreen: :mrgreen: A hmalama kan inhnialna hi chu a hnulam topic angahte hi chuan kengtel tawh thin lo ila, tumah tak2 kan in hmin chuang thin si loa, a tha zawk daih lo ang maw ?… :D :D

    [Report abuse]

  36. 136
    chuailoparmawi Says:

    Pu Victor Biak chu Lawmpuina Chibai ka buk e!!

    shual@ll!!Unau Hmelhaitu kan Zoram Unaute thlirdan hi a dik vek kher lo an ti :roll:

    Anthropology Perspective atrang phei chuan Siamthar/that lehna
    an van mamawh tak em!!!tran tran 8O

    [Report abuse]

  37. 137
    malsta27 Says:

    Mi thenkhat chianglo an la awm a nih hmel. Thil lo tisual tawk chu an awm ang,hrem an phu, mahse chumi avanga movement ang chi eg. racial discrimination/mass violent ang te hi a tha lem lo. Burma lam mi chauh ah lo poh.

    Chumi in a a nghawng chu a tha lam ai in a chhe lam a ni zel, hemi hi kan nunpui reng, kan duh a kan paih a paih loh theih a ni. Mahse chumi chu political boundary leh boundary/lines chi hrang2 te hian a siam thin. A line kan draw tet dan a zirin a teh theih awm e, Communal/tribe/sub tribe chutiang zelin. hemi hi a nasat lutuk chuan economic/politics/social/moral a vo chhe vek thei ani awm e. Politicize a nih phei chuan indona hial a thleng ta thin Ram leh ram inkarah poh.
    Sawi tawi theih dan ang ber chuan, USSR khu a chhe ta vek tih theih a ni a hma ngaihtuah chuan, chu2 hetiang vang hi a ni. Germany (world war giant) poh kha engatinge East/west a an then??? political boundary in thil a tih chhiat theih zia an hre chiang khawp mai. Ti hian a chian ka ring.
    @chuailoparmawia: Anthropological chauh poh a i ni toh lo, historical, humanities leh a dang2 pawh a khoih vek anih hmel. Tih chian a ngaih nasat tawh hmel ka lo ti ve mai2, a chhui thui deuh ten burma ram pelin physical evidence an hmu thei silo laia hi a buaithlak lai ani lo ti ve ngot teh ang.8O

    [Report abuse]

  38. 138
    el-ar Says:

    Wonderboy chu College atanga graduate hlim hlawl, la rap zau vak lo, confi ve em em si i ang e!! Anih loh vek chuan drop out i nih ka ring.

    [Report abuse]

  39. 139
    Aryan Says:

    Burma a awm ten Mizo an intih kher a tul lo ka ti, Chin State a awm an nia chuvang chuan Chin an inti pawh a dik thlap in ka hria. Mizoram leh Chin State hi Germany leh Austria nen hian khaikhin theih deuh reuh awm e. Austrian ho hi German hnam tho an nia, German tawng an hmang bawka, mahse Austrian an inti mai, German kanni eke bale an ti lo. German ho lahin Austrian ho hi German in ni e, German inti rawh u pawh an ti hek lo. Hnam khat an ni tih erawh hai rual loh in an in hre tho.

    Chutiang bawkin Ram rethei Mizorama mizo ten Burma rama Chin State a cheng te Mizo in ni e, Mizo inti ru va tih chhen pawh a tullo. An state of origin a zirin Mizorama mi ten Mizo inti ula, Chin hills ami ten Chin inti sela. German leh Austrian ho angin Hnam khat nihna erawh hai lo ula. A dik ani mai.

    :roll:

    [Report abuse]

  40. 140
    H.Vangchhia Says:

    Aryan i sawi dik, keipawn Nepali leh Gorkhali kalo tehkhin ve :mrgreen:
    A German takin: werden eine Nation in einem anderen Land

    [Report abuse]

  41. 141
    kawlhawk Says:

    Aryan & HV, In dik!!! Burma chuakin ‘Chhin’ an intih hi laknata ngaihkawih tur a ni lo. Unau anga min en duh loh vang pawh a ni lo. An sorkarin a kohdan/a hriatpuidan a ni tlat. Chutiang bawkin, Mizoram chhuakin ‘Chhin’ inti loin ‘Mizo’ kan inti tlat bawk a. ‘Chhin’ inti ve turin min phut kher chuang lo. Unau kan ni tihah erawh chiang tlang ila… A tam zawk hi chuan kan chiang viauin ka hria, HV sawi ang khian…

    [Report abuse]

  42. 142
    lrlawma Says:

    Aryan leh HV , Funny , Kawlhawkte comment hian ka lung in ti chhia e!Ka thinlung in hneh em vangin!!! :P

    [Report abuse]

  43. 143
    wonderboy Says:

    keini drop out MAWL deuh hian in comment FING tak2 atang hian kan lo inzir ve bauh2 a nia :mrgreen:

    [Report abuse]

  44. 144
    Universaldonor Says:

    Pu Victor hlawhtlinna/ chawimawina dawnah chuan a lawmpuitute kan awm laiin lawm vaklote pawh kan awm a va ang ve. Hei tak hi a lawm pawi em em chu. Thenawmpa vanneihnaah lawm theilo, zankhua a muhil theilo, tlaivar thak thak te pawh kan awm fo chu a nih hi.

    Mi pkahtin savawm a kapa, a thenawmpa chuan a miit lianpui a lo ni angnga, pawisa tamtakah a hralh palh ang, tih hlau reng rengin zankhuain a muhil theilo, an tih ang mai.

    Ka sawi tum ber chu, mi lawmnaah lawmpui na chang hrelo/ duhlo leh mi tawrhnaah tawrhpui duhlomi chu society ah pawh hmantlak an nilo duh khawp mai.

    Tin, Human Rights Award hmuh hi thil awlsam a nilova, a ropui takzet.

    [Report abuse]

Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.