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93-556: The group was founded by the Chin people on 20 March 1988, following unsuccessful attempts at armed resistance. The founders were Pu Tial Khal, Pu Lian No Thang (L) and Pu Roenga (L) at Tatkawng Veng, India on February 20 1988. Pu Tial Khal was President. Pu No Than Kap was directed to join the National Democratic Front (NDF) to KNU headquarters soon after it was founded. Pu No Than Kap became CNF President until he

186-503: A state funeral , and his former contacts or junior colleagues were strongly discouraged from attending a hastily arranged funeral, so that only thirty people attended the funeral. Ne Win's daughter Sandar Win was temporarily released from house arrest to attend his funeral and cremation. She later dispersed her father's ashes into the Hlaing River . Ne Win's grandson Aye Ne Win and Kyaw Ne Win were released in 2013. Ne Win

279-403: A blind eye to this humanitarian crisis unfolding right in front of us in our own backyard. This sentiment was shared throughout the state. The Young Mizo Association built refugee towns and supplied the refugees with food, clothes and money donated by people from all over Mizoram. On the request of Young Mizo Association, Mizoram allocated money for the refugees, which included lawmakers and even

372-739: A bloody military coup by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Thousands of deaths have been attributed to the military during this uprising, while authorities in Myanmar put the figure at around 350 people killed. At the height of the Four Eights Uprising against the BSPP, Ne Win resigned as party chairman on 23 July 1988. In a truculent farewell speech to the BSPP Party Congress, he warned that if

465-592: A doctor. In 1931 he was expelled from the university after he failed an exam. Ne Win eventually became " Thakin Shu Maung", or a member of the nationalist organisation Dobama Asiayone (We Burmans Association). Other members of the group included Aung San and U Nu . In 1941 Ne Win, as a member of the Ba Sein-Tun Ok (Socialist) faction of the Dobama, was one of thirty young men chosen for military training by

558-648: A huge role when it comes to traditional clothing as they complete the overall looks of the Chin. Chin people do not wear these clothes in daily life. They wear these on special occasions like Sundays, weddings, Chin National Dayand any other important occasions. Wrestling is a part of the Chin people's tradition. Chin United F.C. represents the Chin people in Burmese association football . The club play in

651-482: A mass exodus of refugees who have left to neighboring nations such as India, Thailand, and Malaysia, even though doing so will risk further torture, detention, or even death. India is the most common destination for Chin refugees, given its close proximity, yet Mizoram (the state in India with the largest Chin population) does not give them full refugee protection and they have no legal status there. The right to life

744-466: A nationwide uprising against BSPP rule in what is now known as the ' Four Eights Uprising '. The 8888 uprising was started by students in Yangon (Rangoon) on 8 August 1988. Student protests spread throughout the country . Hundreds of thousands of monks , children, university students, housewives, doctors and common people protested against the government. The uprising ended on 18 September after

837-468: A portion of the army into rebellion . Ne Win immediately adopted a policy of creating Socialist militia battalions called 'Sitwundan' under his personal command with the approval of U Nu . On 31 January 1949, Ne Win was appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces ( Tatmadaw ) and given total control of the army, replacing General Smith Dun , an ethnic Karen . He rebuilt and restructured

930-582: A section for the protection and promotion of human rights in Myanmar. It summarized that Myanmar provided legal provisions under section 348 of the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, concerning the guarantee of non-discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion, poverty, birth, or other status. It states that capital punishment is prescribed under

1023-543: A week after the speech, Ne Win left for Austria , Switzerland and the United Kingdom "for a medical check up". All universities were closed for more than two years until September 1964. In 1988, 26 years later, Ne Win denied involvement in the dynamiting of the Student Union building, stating that his deputy Brigadier Aung Gyi – who by that time had fallen out with Ne Win and been dismissed – had given

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1116-658: Is a non-derogable (not revocable under any circumstances), as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The articles in the ICCPR are binding on member states that have ratified the ICCPR, however, Myanmar is one of few states that have neither signed nor ratified it. Article 3 of the UDHR states that everyone has

1209-692: Is a research project regarding the human rights violations and health in Chin state. The researchers use "multistaged household cluster" sample and heads of household are interviewed on the health status, access to health care, food insecurity, human rights violations such as forced labor and forced displacement during the last 12 months. In the research data that they state that in 618 households, there are 568 cases of people suffering any forced labor. In 597 households, there are 468 cases of people forcing to do build bridges, roads, and buildings. There are also 36 cases of household member being imprisoned or detained. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Myanmar had

1302-468: Is also supported by Dr. Maung Maung in the Burmese version of his book Burma and General Ne Win , also published in English, that Ne Win was born on 14 May 1911. However, in a book written in Burmese titled The Thirty Comrades , the author Kyaw Nyein gave Ne Win's date of birth as 10 July 1910. While May 24, 1911, is widely cited as Ne Win's birthdate in many scholarly works and biographical references,

1395-836: Is estimated that at least 60,000 Chin people refugees are living in India, while more than 20,000 Chin people refugees are living in Malaysia . Several thousands more are scattered in North America , Europe, Australia , and New Zealand . The Chin people who flee from Burma usually enter the United States directly from Thailand , Malaysia , and India. For most leaving Burma, the trip is illegal, dangerous, and expensive. Many of those who have little money fled through boats, cars, or walk. Other who have more money went through airplanes. There are brokers involved who charge approximately $ 1,000 per person to transport refugees across

1488-434: Is extremely challenging for Chins since they do not speak the local language and are not used to the regional culture and practices. Thus, many Chin live and do informal work on the outer margins of the community. As a result of not having any legal immigration status, many Chins have reported being arrested, detained, and fined for being foreigners. Some Chins are victims of labour exploitation and crime but do not report it to

1581-567: Is hypothesized that the Burmese called the Asho Chin, or Asho khlong, by the latter portion of their name when they first saw them. The beginning KHL- consonant cluster, which is needed to pronounce the name Asho Khlong, was absent from the Burmese language at that time. Therefore, they called them "khyang" and used the closest beginning sound combination, the KHY-sequence, to refer to them. They then used this name to refer to other groups in

1674-567: Is limited by the SPDC which makes it difficult for them to escape persecution in Myanmar. They are left with no choice but to leave, without travel documents, to nearby states. Chins mainly travel to the Indian state of Mizoram and seek protection there. As of 2011, it is estimated that 100,000 Chins were living there. Initially, Mizoram welcomed the Chins. However, as the persecution worsened in Myanmar,

1767-574: Is the military wing of the Chin National Front. It strictly applies the modified Geneva Military Code of Conduct and other international military norms and codes. CNA provides security for the Chin National Front. Chin people The Chin people ( Burmese : ချင်းလူမျိုး ; MLCTS : hkyang: lu. myui: , pronounced [tɕɪ́ɰ̃ lù mjó] ) are an ethnic group native to the Chin State of Myanmar. Strictly speaking,

1860-515: Is unclear. On 5 December 1974 , students turned the funeral of former UN Secretary General U Thant into a demonstration, snatching the coffin on display at the Kyaikkasan Race Course and erecting a makeshift mausoleum on the grounds of the former Student Union building in protest against the government for not honouring their famous countryman with a state funeral. The military stormed the campus on 11 December, killing some of

1953-589: The Communist insurgency within Burma and the outbreak of anti-Chinese riots by regime supporters; however, in March 1971 relations were fully restored and Chinese economic aid continued. Ne Win's date of birth is a subject of debate among various sources. The English-language publication Who's Who in Burma, published in 1961 by People's Literature House, Rangoon, lists Ne Win's birthdate as 14 May 1911. This date

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2046-706: The Communists , Socialists and the BNA in 1945 now that Aung San was dead and the Communists expelled from the AFPFL. Following independence there were uprisings in the army and among ethnic minority groups . In late 1948, after a confrontation between army rivals, Ne Win was appointed second in command of the army and his rival Bo Zeya, a communist commander and fellow member of the Thirty Comrades , took

2139-1018: The Japanese occupation of Burma worked to alienate the nationalists as well as the population at large. Toward the end of the Second World War , on 27 March 1945 the Burma National Army (BNA, successor to the BIA) turned against the Japanese following the British re-invasion of Burma. Ne Win, as one of the BNA Commanders, was quick to establish links with the British – attending the Kandy conference in Ceylon and taking charge of

2232-556: The Kukish language speaking people, and the Indian government inherited this nomenclature. Some Chin nationalists now consider that Chin would mean subtle Paite domination of Chin, Kuki and Chin identity, which other groups like Hmars , Chins (Chinmi), and Koms may not use. The word Chin ( MLCTS : khyang:) is a pseudo-exonym, meaning it is a Burmese adaption of the Asho Chin word khlong or khlaung, which means "man" or "person." It

2325-490: The Lost Tribes of Israel and have adopted the practice of Judaism . The Chin people in Myanmar are one of the minority ethnic groups that have suffered widespread and ongoing ethnic and religious persecution ever since General Ne Win overthrew the democratically elected government in 1962. The predominant religion in Myanmar is Buddhism , however, the Chin people are largely Christian due to American missionary work in

2418-534: The Myanmar National League . There are 31 different varieties of the Chin language, which are also spoken in India and Bangladesh. The largest varieties in three countries are: There are also many different accents among the same dialects. Many Chin people, especially students also speak Burmese, since it is the primary official language in Myanmar and it is taught in school. Traditionally,

2511-670: The anti-Communist operations in the Pyinmana area as commander of the 4th Burma Rifles after the Red Flag Communists and the Communist Party of Burma went underground to fight against the government in October 1946 and on 28 March 1948 respectively. Burma obtained independence on 4 January 1948, and for the first 14 years it had a parliamentary and democratic government mainly under Prime Minister U Nu , but

2604-418: The currency . In 1985, he issued a decree that 25, 35, and 75 kyat notes would cease to be legal tender, alleging that they were subject to hoarding by black-marketeers and were also used to finance the various insurgencies. Though limited compensation was offered, this wiped out people's savings overnight. At least one insurgency, that of the ethnic Kayan , was triggered by this act. In 1987, reportedly on

2697-403: The military junta . After 1998, Ne Win's influence on the junta began to wane. Still under house arrest, Ne Win died on 5 December 2002 at his lakeside house in Yangon . The death remained unannounced by Burmese media or the junta. The only mention of Ne Win's death was a paid obituary notice that appeared in some of the government-controlled Burmese language newspapers. Ne Win was not given

2790-575: The non-citizen Chinese , from owning land, sending remittances , getting business licenses and practicing medicine . Such policies led to the beginnings of a major exodus of Burmese Chinese to other countries – some 100,000 Chinese left Burma. Since Ne Win made Burmese the medium of instruction, many Chinese-language schools had to be closed. When the Chinese embassy in Rangoon distributed Mao 's red books in Burma, many Chinese went out on

2883-547: The party and thus remained the ultimate political authority in the land until his resignation in 1988. Ne Win's government nationalized the economy and pursued a policy of autarky , which involved the economic isolation of Burma from the world. The ubiquitous black market and rampant smuggling supplied the needs of the people, while the central government slid slowly into bankruptcy . Autarky also involved expelling foreigners and restricting visits by foreigners to three days, and after 1972, one week. The Burmanization of

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2976-556: The "Ne Win caretaker government ". Elections were held in February 1960 and Ne Win handed back power to the victorious U Nu on 4 April 1960. On 2 March 1962, Ne Win again seized power in a coup d'état . He became head of state as Chairman of the Union Revolutionary Council and also Prime Minister . The coup was characterized as "bloodless" by the world's media. Declaring that " parliamentary democracy

3069-446: The "disturbances" continued the "army would have to be called and I would like to declare from here that if the army shoots it has no tradition of shooting into the air. It would shoot straight to hit." The Tatmadaw troops shot, killed and maimed hundreds if not up to 3,000 or more demonstrators in various places throughout Burma from the period of 8 to 12 August 1988 and again on 18 September 1988, proving that Ne Win's farewell speech

3162-559: The 1930 Forced Labour Convention (No.29). Article 1 of the Convention states that each member of the ILO which ratifies this Convention undertakes to suppress the use of forced labour in all its forms within the shortest possible period. As a member state of the ILO, Myanmar has an obligation to honour the provisions contained under the eight core Conventions outlined in the ILO, which includes prohibition of forced labour. The Convention on

3255-796: The 1990s but was eventually placed under house arrest, under which he died in 2002. In foreign affairs, Ne Win followed a strictly neutralist policy during the Cold War , participating in the Non-Aligned Movement and keeping his distance from both the United States and the Soviet Union . On the other hand, his relations with Mao Zedong and the People's Republic of China were initially excellent, but were temporarily broken between 1967 and 1971, due to Mao's covert support for

3348-607: The 19th and 20th century. This has led to continuous attempts at forced assimilation. There have been recorded numerous crimes against humanity in Myanmar's western Chin state, committed mainly by the Tatmadaw (members of the Burmese Army) and police; however, other agents of the military government and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) are also involved. Despite continued persecution, little has been done on

3441-480: The British state media BBC News , "The Chin people are one of the most persecuted minority groups in Burma." These people predominantly live in the Chin State, Bago Division , Magwe Division , and Sagaing Region of Myanmar, but are also spread throughout Burma , and Bangladesh and India as refugees. During the era of British rule , the colonial government used the compound term 'Chin-Kuki-Mizo' to group

3534-624: The Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), which in 1964 was formally declared to be the only legal party. A system of state hospitals and institutions was established in Burma; medical care was free. Private hospitals were brought under public ownership . A new system of public education was introduced. A campaign to liquidate illiteracy was carried out starting in 1965. Between 1962 and 1965 important laws against landlords and usury were adopted. They aimed at protecting peasants' rights to land and property and to renting

3627-422: The Burmese economy further still. Ne Win was well known for his penchant for yadaya (traditional Burmese rituals performed in order to ward off misfortune). When his soothsayer warned him that there might be a bloodbath, he would stand in front of a mirror and trample on meat to simulate the blood, then shoot his reflection to avert the possibility of an assassination attempt . Ne Win resigned as chairman of

3720-573: The Burmese language newspapers that were allowed to carry a paid obituary stated the age of 'U Ne Win' to be '93 years'. According to Burmese custom, a person's age is their age upon their next birthday. Since Ne Win turned 92 in July 2002, when he died in December 2002 he was considered to be 93 years old. Most Western news agencies, based on the May 1911 birth date, reported that Ne Win was 91 years old, but

3813-561: The CNA and four Chin women were raped before being murdered. Under section 61 of the Myanmar Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, a person who is arrested without a warrant must not be detained for more than twenty-four hours. Section 340 states a person who has proceedings against him or her has the right to legal representation. Also, article 9 of the UDHR states that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile. Despite

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3906-575: The CNA, even though he told them he was not and had never even contacted anyone from the CNA or other opposition groups before. The police and Tatmadaw refused to believe him, and beat him with the end of their guns until the man's head was split open. They also used electricity from a battery to torture him and would only stop if the man would tell them information about the CNA. For the Chins that are unlucky, they will be confined and locked up in detention facilities. These facilities are inadequate and unsuitable for anyone to be detained in. When interviewed by

3999-554: The Chin National Army organized a ceasefire with the Burma military. In 2015, the Chin National Army (CNA) signed a National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). There are many sub-tribes among the Chin people. Dominant tribes of the Chin include Hakha , Tedim (Haidim) , Asho and Matu . The word "Chin" comes from “Chinlung”, which is believed to be a cave, where their ancestors once lived. A Chin scholar, Lian Uk in 1968, define

4092-547: The Chin peoples were animists . However, in the late 1800s, the first Christian missionaries arrived in the Chin State, and began sharing the message of Christianity with indigenous people. Due to the work of the Baptist Arthur E. Carson, their efforts were successful, and today the majority of Chin are Christians, with most belonging to Protestant denominations, especially Baptist. Many Chin people have served as evangelists and pastors, ministering in places such as

4185-552: The Chins in Myanmar. Extrajudicial killings are committed by the SPDC and the Tatmadaw in Chin state, and the killers are never brought to justice. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has conducted several interviews with Chins who have fled Myanmar to produce a full report outlining the types of persecution that they face. In an interview with HRW, a Chin pastor described an incident that he witnessed in 2006 in Falam township . He stated that

4278-694: The Chins that arrive at Mizoram are placed in a "protracted, urban refugee situation" which is defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as a situation where refugees find themselves in a long-standing and intractable state of limbo. Their lives may not be at risk but their basic rights and essential economic, social, and psychological needs remain unfulfilled after years of exile. They face challenges related to livelihood, food, shelter, and healthcare. For some refugees, survival may be more difficult when compared to their former lives in Myanmar. Local integration

4371-533: The HRW of times where she was forced to porter more than ten times for the Tatmadaw. She would do it for days on end and would have to carry thirty-kilogram bags for up to twenty miles at a time. If she did not keep up the pace with the Tatmadaw, they would beat her and the other porters too. One time, she even refused orders, but the Tatmadaw replied by saying "you are living under our authority. You have no choice. You must do what we say" and beat her again. In 2011, there

4464-572: The Human Rights Watch recalled that members of the YMA carried sticks and went to each of the Chins' houses to ensure that they left Mizoram. The police also arrested Chins who did not leave and confined them in jail. The change in attitude of Mizoram is clearest during the 2021 Myanmar coup when the military overthrew the Myanmar government. Fearing persecution, more than ten thousand Chins fled to Mizoram. In stark contrast to previous years,

4557-556: The Human Rights Watch, former innocent prisoners gave detailed descriptions of the harsh conditions inside detention facilities and stated that they were overcrowded, unsanitary, and infested with insects. Furthermore, prisoners are only given gruel to eat and no water to drink, which gave some prisoners no choice but to drink the dirty toilet water. Myanmar has been a part of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1948 and in 1955, it ratified

4650-624: The Japanese operative Colonel Suzuki Keiji . Their leader was Aung San and they formed the Burma Independence Army (BIA). During military training, Shu Maung chose a nom de guerre , Bo Ne Win (Commander Radiant Sun). In early 1942 the Japanese Army and the BIA entered Burma in the wake of the retreating British forces. Ne Win's role in the campaign was to organize resistance behind the British lines. The experience of

4743-529: The Mizoram government took them in and protected them despite direct orders from the Indian government to prevent refugees from entering India. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga sent a letter to the Indian government stating: Myanmar areas bordering Mizoram are inhabited by Chin communities who are ethnically our Mizo brethren with whom we have been having close contacts throughout these years even before India became independent. Therefore Mizoram cannot remain indifferent to their suffering today. India cannot turn

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4836-526: The Mizoram population became less generous in terms of the protection it gave and its attitude towards Chins. However, this attitude has completely reversed beginning from the 21st Century, with people from both areas helping each other through disasters with a newfound realisation of shared identity. Previously, though some could flee from persecution in Myanmar, they faced a new problem when arriving in Mizoram. There they do not have legal immigration status and are subsequently treated as illegal aliens. As such,

4929-437: The Rights of the Child also protects children from economic exploitation or any labour that is likely to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, or likely to interfere with the child's education. The Myanmar government properly responded to its obligations, and in 1999 it issued Legislative Order No. 1/99, which states that whoever unlawfully compels any person to labour against

5022-464: The SPDC was searching for members of the opposing Chin National Army (CNA) throughout the entire town, but when no information was given, they beat the village council headman and ultimately shot him dead. The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) documented that between 2005 and 2007, sixteen extrajudicial killings occurred with four of them being children. Also between 2006 and 2010, seven Chin men were killed because they were suspected of supporting

5115-474: The Tatmadaw. One of them remembered that the Tatmadaw would call him to work for months, building houses for the SPDC or erecting fences for the army camp. Nothing was provided for him and he had to bring his own tools and equipment. There was no payment, and if he did not show up to work, the Tatmadaw would beat him. Forced labour disrupts the livelihood of the workers and prevents them from doing their regular jobs to support their families. Another Chin woman told

5208-470: The Thirty Comrades when he wrote the book in the mid-to late 1990s. (Ne Win was one of the Thirty Comrades who secretly went to undergo military training in the early 1940s for the purpose of fighting for independence from the British). In his book published around 1998, Kyaw Nyein lists the names of the surviving members of the Thirty Comrades whom he had interviewed, although Ne Win was not mentioned among them. Secondly, when Ne Win died on 5 December 2002,

5301-431: The Union Peacemaking Work Committee came on December 9, 2012. The Chin National Front stated that they are not based on a class of people, a religious belief, a region or an ideology but works for the Chin people. The Chin National Front welcomes and invites any nation, state, organization, and individuals to join in the effort to restore democracy, freedom and federalism in the Union of Burma. CNF The Chin National Army

5394-400: The United States, Australia, Guam, and India. The Chin people's adoption of Christianity was not followed by the rest of Burma, and, since independence, the military government has persecuted the Chin people on religious grounds. Christianity grew from 35% in 1966 to 90% in 2010. Since the late 20th century, a group of Chin, Kuki, and Mizo peoples claim descent from Bnei Menashe , one of

5487-417: The area and, eventually, to all of the tribes residing in the Arakan Mountains and Chin Hills . The newfound democracy of Chin State ended abruptly in 1962 with the onset of the military rule of General Ne Win in Burma (Center for Applied Linguistics, 2007). Ne Win remained in power until 1988, when nationwide protests against military rule erupted. These uprisings, commonly known as the 8888 because of

5580-404: The armed forces along the ruling Socialist Party 's political lines, but the country was still split and the government was ineffective. He was asked to serve as interim prime minister from 28 October 1958 by U Nu , when the AFPFL split into two factions and U Nu barely survived a motion of no-confidence against his government in parliament . Ne Win restored order during the period known as

5673-610: The big events on Chin National Day is the traditional wrestling (Lai Paih). There is also Miss competition from each town or city in Chin State. Other events, such as fashion shows and singing also take place in Chin National Day. Traditional food, such as Sabuti ( hominy corn soup) and Chang (rice cake) are served. There are several tradition dresses such as Matu , Falam , Tedim , Zo , Tapong, Zotung , Mindat , Daa Yindu(Kanpetlet), Mara , etc. The main colors use for these traditional dresses are red, green and black. Accessories such as bracelets, necklaces, hairpins and rings also play

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5766-537: The border. If those fleeing are caught by either the Burmese government or the government of the country they are trying to enter, they face imprisonment that may include harsh treatment such as being beaten. Those in refugee camps (located mainly in Thailand) are told that it is easier to gain entry into the United States if they have children; thus, many young, new parents enter the United States and need jobs immediately in order to support their young families. Chins have restricted freedom of movement and their travel

5859-503: The chief minister of Chin state, Salai Lian Luai . [REDACTED] Media related to Chin people at Wikimedia Commons General Ne Win Ne Win ( Burmese : နေဝင်း ; IPA: [nè wɪ́ɰ̃] ; 24 May 1911 – 5 December 2002), born Shu Maung ( Burmese : ရှူမောင် ; IPA: [/ʃù màʊ̃̀/] ), was a Burmese army general and politician who served as Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974, and also President of Burma from 1962 to 1981. Ne Win

5952-404: The closure of universities and colleges. In June 1974, workers from more than 100 factories throughout the nation participated in a strike, to which the government reacted by shooting about 100 workers and students on 6 June 1974 at the Thamaing Textile Factory and the Sinmalaik Dock Yard in Rangoon. Since Ne Win was in Australia on an official visit at the time, responsibility for these shootings

6045-400: The country was riven with political division . Even before independence , Aung San was assassinated together with six of his cabinet members on 19 July 1947; U Saw , a pre-war prime minister and political rival of Aung San , was found guilty of the crime and executed . U Nu as leader of the Socialists took charge of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) formed by

6138-413: The country's failing economy and widespread discrimination accelerated an emigration of Burmese Chinese out of Burma. Students from universities throughout Rangoon demonstrated again in June 1975 in commemoration of the previous year's Labour Strike. Student-led demonstrations also occurred in March 1976, September 1987, March and June 1988. In August and September 1988, these demonstrations turned into

6231-447: The date on which they occurred, were met by an outburst of violence from the military government . The violent government response killed approximately 3,000 people in just a matter of weeks and imprisoned many more (Human Rights Watch, 2009). It was during this period of resistance to military rule that the Chin National Front (CNF) and its armed branch, the Chin National Army (CNA), gained momentum (Human Rights Watch, 2009). In 2012,

6324-508: The discrepancies among sources warrant acknowledgment. These conflicting accounts highlight the challenges in determining Ne Win's exact birthdate and may stem from differences in historical documentation or cultural interpretations. Therefore, while May 24, 1911, is commonly accepted, alternative dates cannot be disregarded entirely. Kyaw Nyein's date of 1910 can be considered as the more plausible date. First, Kyaw Nyein had access to historical records and he interviewed many surviving members of

6417-432: The economy included the expulsion of many Chinese (along with Indians). Ne Win's government prohibited foreigners from owning land and practicing certain professions. Even foreign aid organizations were banned; the only humanitarian aid permitted was on an intergovernmental basis. Furthermore, heavy-handed political oppression caused many in the educated workforce to emigrate. Ne Win also took drastic steps regarding

6510-452: The land. These measures included the law abolishing rents on land. On 2 March 1974, he disbanded the Revolutionary Council and proclaimed the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma . He was elected president of Myanmar and shortly afterward appointed Brigadier General Sein Win as Prime Minister . On 9 November 1981, Ne Win resigned as president and was succeeded in that post by General San Yu . However, Ne Win remained leader of

6603-425: The law and continuously turns a blind eye to forced labour that the Chins still presently endure. In June 2006, the SPDC Minister of Information stated that the Tatmadaw were doing everything legally and that forced labour was never used. Forty-four Chin people interviewed by Human Rights Watch gave statements that they experienced forced labour themselves, and another fifty-two reported they were forced to porter for

6696-595: The law to be imposed only for the most serious of crimes and to only be carried out pursuant to the final judgment of a competent court. Further, the UPR states that the Penal Code of Myanmar prohibits torture, degrading treatment, arbitrary arrest, and that arrest of anyone must be done in accordance with procedure established under law. Additionally, it states that Myanmar provides the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of association. The summary seems to be contradictory to

6789-427: The obituary put up by his family (most probably his children) stated that he was 93 years old, which most likely stems from East Asian age reckoning . Ne Win, born Shu Maung, was born into an ethnic Chinese family in a small village near Paungdale about 200 miles (320 km) north of Rangoon . He spent two years at Rangoon University beginning in 1929, and took biology as his main subject with hopes of becoming

6882-482: The order and that he had to take responsibility as a " revolutionary leader " by giving the sword with sword and spear with spear speech. Ne Win oversaw a number of reforms after taking power. The administration instituted a system including elements of nationalism , Marxism , and Buddhism , though Ne Win lacked interest in either ideology or religion – terming this the Burmese Way to Socialism . He founded

6975-401: The part of the Chin people to speak out due to fear of reprisal, restrictions on travel, and the press imposed by the Burmese military regime. In their oppression of the Chin people, the Tatmadaw consistently violate the rule of law. The Chin people have been subject to forced labor , torture , arbitrary arrests , unlawful detention , and extrajudicial killings . Such treatment has incited

7068-591: The police for fear of deportation. The Young Mizo Association (YMA) is a voluntary association in Mizoram whose mandate is to provide community service, which includes "conservation of Mizo culture and heritage". In the past, it has issued orders forcing Chins to leave Mizoram because they do not want foreigners in their country. This breaches the international principle of non-refoulement because if Chins were to be sent back to Myanmar, persecution and suffering would be inevitable for them. One interviewee who spoke to

7161-454: The presence of legal structures and international law , the rule of law is not followed in Myanmar and arbitrary arrests, detention, and attacks are still carried out by the Tatmadaw and SPDC. A number of Chins who were interviewed by Human Rights Watch describe the abuses in detail. One Chin man recalls back to the year 2000 when he was 16 years old. He was approached by the Burmese police and Tatmadaw who were accusing him of being connected to

7254-949: The real-life experiences of the Chin people. States such as the United States of America, Jordan, New Zealand, Poland, and others have made recommendations to Myanmar concerning its human rights violations. Given their persecution in Burma, thousands of Chins are scattered throughout Europe , the United States, and Southeast Asia . American Baptist, British, and Swedish Lutheran church groups have helped relocate thousands of Chin people. Global Chin News , World News in Chin , World and Chin-Burmese News in Chin , Chin Cable Network , Chin News Channel , Chinland Today and Chin Articles and News , are some well known Chin media websites that broadcast daily news in Chin languages. It

7347-436: The recommendation of an astrologer that the number nine was auspicious , Ne Win ordered the withdrawal of several large-denomination kyat notes while issuing new denominations of 45 and 90 kyats. Both 45 and 90 are divisible by nine, and their numerals add up to nine. Again, millions of Burmese lost their life savings, and the demonetization also rendered about 75% of the entire kyat reserves completely useless. This crippled

7440-656: The right to life, liberty and security of a person and article 6 of the ICCPR states that every human being has the inherent right to life and no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life. Myanmar has also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and article 6 states that parties to the Convention must recognize that every child has the inherent right to life. Despite these international instruments prohibiting extrajudicial killings , they still occur to

7533-527: The ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party on 23 July 1988 at the height of the uprising against his regime , and roughly one year after the United Nations declared Burma a " Least Developed Country ". Sporadic protests against the government continued. Students led protests in 1965, December 1969, and December 1970. These demonstrations took place mainly on campuses located in the cities of Rangoon , Mandalay and Moulmein and were often followed by

7626-585: The streets in support of the Cultural Revolution. They were attacked by Burmese citizens , the most violent riots taking place in 1967. Beginning in 1967 and continuing throughout the 1970s, anti-Chinese riots continued to flare up, as many elements in Burma tried to spread the Cultural Revolution . Many believed they were covertly supported by the government. Similarly, Chinese shops were looted and set on fire. Public attention

7719-717: The students, recovered the coffin and buried U Thant at the foot of the Shwedagon pagoda , next to the tomb of Thakin Kodaw Hmaing . In February 1963, the Enterprise Nationalization Law was passed, effectively nationalizing all major industries and prohibiting the formation of new factories. This law adversely affected many industrialists and entrepreneurs , especially those without full citizenship . The government's economic nationalization program further prohibited foreigners, including

7812-621: The term "Chin" only refers to the 53 sub-tribes of the Chin ethnic group , divided and recognized by the Burmese government. They speak the Kuki-Chin-Mizo languages , which are often mutually unintelligible but are closely related. The Chin are one of the founding groups of the Union of Burma , along with the Shan , Kachin , and Burmese . The Chin speak a variety of related languages, and share elements of culture and traditions. According to

7905-661: The term “Chin” and similar names as “people”, further stating that the name “Chinland” means Ourland. Chin people are scattered between three countries, namely India, Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh. Some of the Chin live in Rakhine State and most of them are Cumtu , Asho , Kongtu and Laitu. They are living in Myebon , Minbya , Ann , Thandwe and Gwa . Among them, the majority is Cumtu Chin . The Chin speak several languages, Kukish , Naga and Maraic languages; Ethnologue lists 49 languages in this group, of which 20 contain

7998-494: The will of that person shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term of one year, or with a fine, or both. In 2007, the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB), which records and reports violations of forced labour in Myanmar collected approximately 3500 cases of forced labour mainly involving the Chins in Chin state. Despite the legal structures set in statute, the military government fails to enforce

8091-490: The word "Chin" in their name. The Chin National Day is celebrated annually on February 20, which is the day the Chin people abolished the slavery system or chieftainship. The first Chin National Day was celebrated in 1951 at Mindat . People display many traditional dance such as bamboo dance, Sarlamkai (conquest dance), Khuangcawi(a lady is lifted by a crowd), Ruakhatlak and many other dances from each group. One of

8184-677: Was Burma's military dictator during the Socialist Burma period of 1962 to 1988. Ne Win founded the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) and overthrew the democratic Union Parliament of U Nu in the 1962 Burmese coup d'état , establishing Burma as a one-party socialist state under the Burmese Way to Socialism ideology. Ne Win was Burma's de facto leader as chairman of the BSPP , serving in various official titles as part of his military government, and

8277-559: Was forcefully expelled. The Central Executive Committee members of the Eighth Party Conference (2024-2028) of the Chin National Front are: The Chin National Front signed a state level preliminary "Ceasefire Agreement" with the Chin State government on January 6, 2012, the first Union level ceasefire agreement with Union level peace negotiation team on May 7, 2012. A second Union level "Ceasefire Agreement" with

8370-425: Was known by his supporters as U Ne Win . His rule was characterized by a non-aligned foreign policy, isolationism , one-party rule, economic stagnation, and superstition . Ne Win resigned in July 1988 in response to the 8888 Uprising that overthrew the Burma Socialist Programme Party, and was replaced by the military junta of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). He held minor influence in

8463-400: Was not an empty threat. On 18 September 1988 the military led by Senior General Saw Maung dispelled any hopes for democracy by brutally crushing the uprisings. It is widely believed that Ne Win, though in apparent retirement, orchestrated the coup from behind the scenes. For about ten years, Ne Win kept a low profile but remained a shadowy figure exercising at least some influence on

8556-566: Was not suitable for Burma," the new regime suspended the constitution and dissolved the legislature. Following riots at Rangoon University in July 1962, troops were sent to restore order. They fired on protesters and destroyed the student union building. Shortly afterward, around 8 pm local time, Ne Win addressed the nation in a five-minute radio speech which concluded with the statement: "If these disturbances were made to challenge us, I have to declare that we will fight sword with sword and spear with spear". On 13 July 1962, less than

8649-554: Was successfully diverted by Ne Win from the uncontrollable inflation , scarcity of consumer items and rising prices of rice. The 1982 Citizenship Law further restricted Burmese citizenship for Burmese Chinese (as it stratified citizenship into three categories: full, associate, and naturalized) and severely limited Burmese Chinese, especially those without full citizenship and those holding FRCs, from attending professional tertiary schools, including medical , engineering , agricultural and economics institutions . During this period,

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