Human rights situation in Chinland (r)

[kwia@xxxxxx]

People of the Chin Human Rights orgaization asked me to post this statement,
made for the UN working group on indigenous peoples, held in Geneva, 29 July
- 2 August 1996.

Kris Deckers



The human rights situation in Chinland (Burma)

The Burmese military regime known as SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration
Council) claims Burma to be a peaceful country because it has negotiated
military ceasefires with ethnic armed resistance groups and pretends to be
improving the human rights situation in the country. Trying to guarantee the
ceasefires, SLORC is in reality increasing the human rights abuses against
ethnic civilians. Even though ceasefires have been concluded in some ethnic
areas, arbitrary arrests, detention with torture and executions are
widespread and forced labour is an on going practise of the SLORC regime
against the ethnic civilians.

The Chins are one of the largest ethnic groups living in the western part of
Burma. There is no ceasefire or negotiation between SLORC and Chin. But
SLORC is sending more battalians into Chin State. Foreced labour, portering
and rape are rapidly increasing. To build new army posts has become a daily
routine for the Chion  villagers.

The Chins have their own literature. But for many years the Burmese
dictators did not allow them to develop their own language, literature and
culture. In School until recently there was one small unit taught in Chin up
to class four (8 to 9 years old); but in 1996 SLORC cancelled the Chin
Language from the school programme. Moreover teachers are not allowed to use
the Chin Language in the class room. The students are forces to learn and
speak Burmese language.

There is no freedom of education and in practise there is no freedom of
religion. Forced conversion to Buddhism, removing christian crosses and
replacing them by Buddhist pagodas is one of the violations committed by
SLORC in Chin State. Even one of the Buddhist Associations, BYVA, condemned
the SLORC for violating the buddhist teaching a letter dated January 12,
1996 (BYVA-Bulletin N 14).

Thousand of villagers have been forcedly recruited to construct the
Kankaw-Kaley railway. Now SLORC is calling Chin villagers to construct the
Kaley-Haka highway, without pay since February 1996. Recently two MP's,
elected in the 1990 General elections, U Thawng Kho Thang of Tamu and U Do
Thwang of Tahan, were arrested by SLORC. For all these reasons may thousands
of Chins had to flee from their homes and are today living as refugees in India.

Chin State, which was one of the most peaceful areas in Burma, is now
becoming a battlefield. The abuses and enslavement committed by SLORC is in
reality a war against its own people in order to control them.

After the 1988 military coup, the SLORC began to modernize the army and
increase its military forces from 150.000 to 400.000 soldiers, and started
large arm deals with several countries. In order to strengthen its armed
forces and its power, the SLORC began to invite foreign investors and build
up a tourism industry. But every profit flows to the military regime and
helps to oppress ethnic minority groups in the country.

It is very important that the international community put more pressure upon
the SLORC and impose the economic sanctions against the SLORC, as asked by
the Burmese opposition leader and Nobelprize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Moreover, selling arms to SLORC will never lead to an opening up of
democracy and ethnic rights in Burma, but will cause more killing of the
ethnic minority groups. Unless we put an end to the arm trade, wew ill never
put an end to violence and we cannot protect the fundamental rights of the
indigenous people. The international community should therefore impose not
only for economic sanctions but also an arms embargo. 

Please support the Chin people and all other indigenous people in Burma in
their struggle for freedom and self-determination.


Geneva, July-August 1996 (P.S; These are only a few example of Human Rights
violation Taking place in Chinland)

Chin Human Rights Organization
KWIA Steungroep Inheemse Volkeren - KWIA Supportgroup for Indigenous peoples
- KWIA Grupo de Apoyo para los Pueblos Indigenas
Breughelstraat 31-33, 2018 Antwerpen, BELGIUM
Tel. 32-3-2188488
Fax  32-3-2304540
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