"We Are Like Forgotten People" -- The Chin People of Burma: Unsafe in Burma, Unprotected in India

Description: 

"In the 93-page report, ?‘We Are Like Forgotten People?: Unsafe in Burma, Unprotected in India,? Human Rights Watch documents a wide range of human rights abuses carried out by the Burmese army and government officials. The abuses include forced labor, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, religious repression and other restrictions on fundamental freedoms. In Mizoram state, India, Chin people remain at risk of discrimination and abuse by local Mizo groups and local authorities, and of being forced back across the border into Burma... Burma?s military government regularly arrests and imprisons ethnic Chin to stifle political dissent and intimidate them. The army places restrictions on many aspects of life for the Chin, including: curtailing their freedom of movement; regularly confiscating and extorting money, food, and property; exacting forced labor, and coercing them to plant certain crops. One Chin man told Human Rights Watch, ?We are like slaves, we have to do everything [the army] tells us to do.? ?We Are Like Forgotten People? also documents abuses committed by the opposition Chin National Front and its armed branch, the Chin National Army, such as harassment, beatings and extortion from Chin villagers. One Chin church leader now living in Mizoram said, ?These underground groups, rather than being a help, make life even more difficult for us.? Human Rights Watch called on both the Burmese army and armed groups to end abuses, and for Burma?s ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to allow humanitarian agencies unfettered access to Chin State..."

Source/publisher: 

Human Rights Watch

Date of Publication: 

2009-01-28

Date of entry: 

2010-11-24

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Language: 

English

Local URL: 

Format: 

pdf

Size: 

2.61 MB