The Zomi National Congress (ZNC) is one of the leading political parties in Burma. This party was registered in the year 1988. Until 1992, it was permitted to operate as a political organization. At that time the Burma military government abolished Zomi National Congress. It also banned the party from all other political movements. While heavily demoralized as an un-sanctioned party, Zomi National Congress still exists within the kingdom of Burma. I also exist as part of the global Zo Movement.
The chairman of the Zomi National Congress was Chin Sian Thang. He was elected as a Member of Parliament and it happened during Burma’s ill-fated 1990 elections. He has worked attentively for many years. During 1960s, Chin Sian Thang also served as a leader of the Chin Ethnic Student Union. At that time he was a student at Rangoon University. In 1972 and 1999 he was imprisoned and in each time he served two years. He suffered brutal interrogations at that tenure that leads permanent health problems to Chin Sian Thang.
Chin Sian Thang also serves as a member of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament. This was a group with support from 251 candidates. All of then were elected in 1990. Chin Sian Thang heavily promotes the CRPP. He can be remembered as the most outspoken elected leader in Burma.
In 1953 a Committee was formed in Burma. The main motto was to remove the existing confusion over names so that a common racial nomenclature can be done. After deep research, the Committee realized that all of them were descendants of Zo. They had always called themselves as Zo, Yaw, Yo, Jo, Shou, etc. This is the reason why they unanimously suggested the term ‘Zomi’ as their racial nomenclature. The name was adopted in a common meeting at Saikah village at Thantlang.
Minorities in Burma
In Burma you can see some ethnic minorities such as the Karen. Evidences are there that suggest that Burmese regime has marked Karen for extinction which can also be called ‘Burmisation’. But this action has little effect in front of the mass killings in places like Rwanda.
According to Amnesty International, since 1978 the Muslim ‘Rohingya’ people have continual suffering from human rights violations. It has been done under the Burma junta. As a result of this many have fled to neighboring Bangladesh.
In Burma, The Rohingyas’ freedom of movement is severely restricted. Vast majority of the community have efficiently been denied Burma citizenship. It can be seen that they are subjugated to various forms of overcharge and arbitrary taxation. In some cases land confiscation can be seen. They also suffered from house destruction and forced eviction. Financial restrictions on marriage were also there. This Muslim community continues to be used as forced labourers at military camps and also on roads. It can be seen that in northern Rakhine State the amount of forced labour has decreased over the last decade.
In the year 1978 more than 200,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh. The ‘Nagamin’ i.e. ‘Dragon King’ operation of the Burma army occurred at that time. This campaign is famous as it aimed at ‘scrutinizing’ each individual in the state. The designation of citizens was done. Foreigners were also designated in accordance with the law. The campaign is also remembered for taking actions against foreigners who have intruded into the country illegally. Civilians were directly targeted by this military campaign. The result is rape, mass killings, and destruction of mosques and various other religious monuments.
During 1991-92, more than million quarter Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh. They described the situation in Burma with forced labour, torture, summary executions, and rape, etc. Rohingyas even worked without payment by the Burma army.
According to Amnesty International, since 1978 the Muslim ‘Rohingya’ people have continual suffering from human rights violations. It has been done under the Burma junta. As a result of this many have fled to neighboring Bangladesh.
In Burma, The Rohingyas’ freedom of movement is severely restricted. Vast majority of the community have efficiently been denied Burma citizenship. It can be seen that they are subjugated to various forms of overcharge and arbitrary taxation. In some cases land confiscation can be seen. They also suffered from house destruction and forced eviction. Financial restrictions on marriage were also there. This Muslim community continues to be used as forced labourers at military camps and also on roads. It can be seen that in northern Rakhine State the amount of forced labour has decreased over the last decade.
In the year 1978 more than 200,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh. The ‘Nagamin’ i.e. ‘Dragon King’ operation of the Burma army occurred at that time. This campaign is famous as it aimed at ‘scrutinizing’ each individual in the state. The designation of citizens was done. Foreigners were also designated in accordance with the law. The campaign is also remembered for taking actions against foreigners who have intruded into the country illegally. Civilians were directly targeted by this military campaign. The result is rape, mass killings, and destruction of mosques and various other religious monuments.
During 1991-92, more than million quarter Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh. They described the situation in Burma with forced labour, torture, summary executions, and rape, etc. Rohingyas even worked without payment by the Burma army.
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