By
Jonathan Thang

Here comes again the Chin National Day with a new hope.

The original purpose of the Chin National Day is to build unity among Chin people and to rule the territory according to the wills of people under democratic system.  That day was agreed by all participants, leaders of different Chin ethnics’ tribe to end feudal system and to introduce democratic system.  Unfortunately, the day was unable to introduce any new government yet eventhough all participants yarn to form a proper Chin government based on “Federal based governing structure”.  Therefore, this is a duty of successive Chin leaders and Chin people to carry out what our ancestors have agreed upon.  We are not going to do because of our ancestors have laid the foundation, but importantly, which is the only reason to build peace among Chin by introducing the “federal based structure”.

The so called different Chin leaders had failed to introduce the “true federal based structure” in wherever they are till today.  The most remarkable one is to form Chin State government after 1988 Burma’s Revolution by introducing the “Chin National Front and her wing the “Chin National Army”.  I used to discuss the failure of introducing federal based structure within CNF/CNA, with one of my 2^nd cousins Dr. Val Thang, (who served as General Secretary during CNF’s former President Nothang Kap before CNF/CNA was officially abolished.  Later a few ethnic members revive or rebirth CNF/CNA for some personal beneficial and manipulate to use as few tribe’s political tools.)  Dr. Val Thang, who is serving now as leader of North-America Matu Christian Church in Indianapolis had argued that during his time in CNF/CNA was impossible to conduct any genuine representatives of Chin people to be part of leading Chin people, due to revolution times’ difficulties to organized any inclusive meeting and lot of limitations including unable to travel around to all Chin communities, and scarcity of financial sources.  His claimed seemed to be true at some level but not good enough; if CNF/CNA really want to represent the Chin people, they have a duty and they must organized to have all representatives to be on board. 

They can’t simply sent invitation and continue with the election or any next level steps without having consensus agreement with at least 70% of Chin ethnics’ representatives.  No one has given legitimate legal rights to go ahead with forming Chin Government.  If they want to do so they must fulfilled basic level steps of gathering Chin representatives, from there, next level is to write a draft constitution where more than 70% of representatives can agree upon, then the third level is to conduct election.

The current CNF/CNA backed, the interim Chin government is not based on genuine federal structure, not even 50% of ethnic representatives are involved in.  In the North, there are ethnic groups like Zo, Zomi, Sizang, Falam etc. and in the South, Kampalett, Mindatt (Cho), Palettwa, 50% of Matupi are not in this CNF’s interim Chin government.  CNF’s interim Chin Government is mostly based on Htantlang, Hakkha and few Zophei etc.  If you carefully observe Chinland’s map, the current interim Chin government may not cover more than 30% of Chin’s territory and Chin ethnics’ representatives. There are certain ethnics group migrated to third countries as a refugees were able to reach in huge number in particular location or country; there they might able to show their numbers and speak louder than others, but that does not count to represent the Chin land’s proportion within Chin territories where number of original ethnics and territories are divided in their own respective ethnics based group.

NOTE: (The current Chin state map of Myanmar is not correct. The Chin’s original territory are double bigger than the current one. The Chin are spread in half of Sagaing Division, some in Magwe etc. Which means half of Chin population are spread outside the current Chin state map. Almost 90% of Asho Chin are spread along Bago yoma region and Magwe. The current Myanmar’s national boundary map is reedited after British left the country. The late dictator General Ne Win and his association redraw all the states and division as they pleased in order to preparing the Burmese base territory to be control in case of genuine federal system come to alive.)

If so, why CNF/CNA go ahead to formed interim Chin government?, which will cause more distrust among Chin people during the process of Burma’s nationwide revolution period.  As a result, the revolution movement can not move forward, and there are signs of internal conflict about to explode anytime soon, if it is not stop on time.  Then, we must evaluate the reasons where it goes wrong and who are to be blame? 

The main reason is based on ego, selfishness and mostly the mindset of considering race superiority ideology.  If we really want to introduce “genuine federal system”, we must ready to consider everyone, every ethnic as our own brothers and sisters, and ready to treat them equally in every aspect of whatever we are doing.  If not, we will ended up as a regional war-lord competition, followed by continuous revenge and destroying each other; without possibility to move into a peaceful society nor without able to see any infrastructure development, nor improving living standard and social status will be left as a backward nation.

To be honest, the late Paul Sitha (during his general secretary of CNF during 2010), he was ready to reform after having a strong discussion with me in Stavanger, Norway; regarding on how genuine federal structure should be implement if CNF/CNA sincerely want to represent the whole Chin people.  After 2 hours of discussion, he promised me that he will inform the board as I have documented.  In the mean time, Dr. Sui Khar (I guess he was a kind of General Secretary 2 position holding that time, but he used to take every kind of role as he please since, most CNF members are his ethnics group and he is free to do most as he wishes), who is holding meeting the Chin people in Southern Norway at Froland small town.  There, I met him and discussed the future of CNF to be represent among the Chin people.  At the end of discussion, he agreed the same as Paul Sitha; Dr. Sui Khar argued a lot but later agreed to reform.  (During that time, I was working as a “junior political researcher at United Nation Association, Norway, and involved in political process and peace building activities.  I used to invite Burmese activists in the office hall of our NGO where I worked as a part time.  Sometime we invited Chin leaders including CNA leader Solomon, also we met General Nedha Mya, the current Kawthoo Lei Army leader at Kvinesdal town by meeting with few Norwegian parliament members and some NGOs; where I used to raised the issue of solving the basic Burma’s political problems.)

Unfortunately, the CNF failed to reform the structure and later Paul Sitha resigns from his post.  The CNF/CNA continues with their fail federal structure until today.  Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong, who is more specialize educational background in documenting human rights under the name of Chin Christian persecution in Burma, is also leading the current CNF/CNA from behind the scene or most openly; he failed to adopt the right genuine federal based structure.  As a result how come a person like him could able to lead at nationwide level under the current interim government NUG’s Minister as a responsible for Federal constitution.  He is not fit to write any federal laws with his educational background, he is not willing to seek help from those who have ability and experiences in federation laws etc.  The post should have be given to one of activists from a group of Burma’s Lawyer Council, U Aung Htoo.  U Aung Htoo is the most suitable to hold that position or at least to be a part of drafting committee.

In this Burma’s revolution process, every leader must know their own limitation in skills, knowledge and ability.  Don’t take any position which is not our specialize field or educated at.  We don’t count your desire to help alone, but your much needed skill if it is suit to the right job for the right skills.  If you put a land hunter like lion in the sea; or if you put a hunter like enormous shark on the land?; both will drown and become a prey, a hunter will be hunted as a prey.  Therefore professional skills are needed to serve on the right place at the right time.  We don’t have time to waste in this current Burma’s Revolution, the same goes to Chin has no time to waste in forming interim government before revolution is over.  If over 90% Chin representatives decided to have interim-government now, that is acceptable, otherwise don’t waste time on its and don’t impose on any other at the wrong time.  We all will end up as a prey under brutal military led by Min Aung Hlaing.

Here, the most important message now is, NUG can not accept nor recognize the current interim Chin government which was organized by CNF/CNA recently, but only all inclusive group like ICNCC for a time being until the revolution is over.  Otherwise, the credibility of NUG is questionable and bound to fail in this current revolution process as her predecessor Dr. Sein Win led NCGUB exile government. In the mean time, Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong should be given any other position rather than what he is holding now because he will not take the revolution journey to the end in a safe way with the current drafting federal agreements or constitution. Instead U Aung Htoo should be consider to be given the position of responsible for drafting federal constitution or any other who have enough background about genuine federal structure.

The current Burma’s revolution to be overcome is purely based on two main NUG’s departments, whether to they adopting the right strategy or not, which of them are Foreign Ministry department and Federal Ministry department. Without adopting the right federal structure agreement, the internal forces will be never united good enough to build a strong unity internal forces. The same goes to Foreign Ministry department, without adopting the right international relationship approach along with the right political deals, none of international communities will consider to back NUG in term of providing military assistance. Therefore, this two departments must reform and invite experts to be adopt the right strategies and require much needed implementation procedures.

Here is important to remember, “If someone failed to do things, he must ready to learn and correct it, but continue the work stubbornly without correcting mistake is betraying.” Therefore, today is the day every Chin must wake up from our stubbornness, ego-selfishness and ready to humbly & bravely serve the nation based on true, and equality.

May God bless you all and grant you a peaceful country called Myanmar, where every ethnics, tribes and nationals can peacefully coexist and live happily forever.

Filed under: 1 General News, 2 Burma News, 5 MSU News, 7 Opinions | Tagged: asia, burma, history, myanmar, politics |