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Mizzima: Chin National Day celebrat



Chin National Day celebrated in New Delhi

February 20, 2000
Mizzima News Group

Chin refugees who are living in New Delhi celebrated the 52nd
anniversary of Chin National Day today. The celebration, which was held
in Janakpuri of New Delhi, was participated by more than 250 Chin
nationals living in different parts of Delhi. Exiled pro-democracy
activists from Burma also joined the celebration and it ended in the
afternoon with colorful Chin traditional music and dance presented by
Chin students.

The Chins, who are one of the nationalities of Burma, celebrate 20th
February every year as their National Day. About 500 Chin nationals are
currently living in New Delhi as refugees under the mandate of United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Chin National Day is the day of significance for all the Chins
regardless of where he or she is. Till the time British conquered the
Chin Hills in 1895, Chins were ruled themselves by chieftains. The Chin
leaders joined with other ethnic minority leaders of Burma and singed
the historic Panglong Agreement on February 12, 1947 to achieve
independence from the British. Barely one month after the independence
of Burma, the first Chin National Conference was held from February 19
to 22 at Falam town in Chin land and it was attended by more than 5,000
Chin nationals. On the second day of the conference, the participants
decided to eliminate the existing feudal Chieftainship and adopt a
democratic administration in Chin land. The conference also decided to
observe the day, February 20, as Chin National Day.

However, it is noted that successive governments of Burma have imposed
certain restrictions on celebration of Chin National Day inside Burma
and February 20 is celebrated as Chin State Day by the government in
Rangoon.

In its statement issued today, the armed Chin National Front accused the
military junta in Burma of spreading rumors in neighboring countries to
destroy the movement of Chin National Front. "The Burman dominated
military is trying in many ways to destroy the national movement of Chin
National Front by torturing innocent people, propagating rumors of Chin
National Front among the governments of neighboring countries and
striving to get military cooperation with neighboring countries", said
the statement.

India-based Chin Students Union said that the present political deadlock
and severe economic hardships in Burma is a result of the ruling
military junta's unwillingness to take up peaceful political means to
solve the longstanding problems of Burma.