Name keeps ethnic group out of politics

[Zomi for Federalization and Democratization of Burma]

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NLD chairman in Chin State Van Lian said the UEC’s decision was
unfair.

“The ZNC, under the same name, was allowed to participate in the 1990
election in which it won two seats,” said Van Lian. “I cannot
comprehend why they are being rejected now.”

They are being rejected now, because the ZNC was alligned with the NLD
and failed to stand for election in 2010 along with the NLD. It is the
Brutal Bamar Buddhist Fascist Mercenary Terrorist Rapist Government's
way of punishment for rejecting the 2008 Constitution.

The BBBFMTR Government prohibits a Zomi party, and prohibits the
teaching of Zomi language in Zomi schools. From the day schools were
founded (during the British times), Zomi language was taught in
primary schools (Kindergarten to 4th Standard) until the BBBFMTR
prohibited it.

The BBBFMTR Government has been succeessful in ruining the lives,
livelihood, education, literacy, economy, culture, etc. of the
indigenous races.

In democratic countries, the languages of the minorities were kept
alive by the governments. See, for example, the case of Maoris in New
Zealand; Paite, Hmar, Thadou in India; Seminole, Cherokee, Navajo in
USA; Inuit in Canada.

My message to Thein Sein: Do you really want the eradication of Zomi
people, language and culture? Are you really for ethnic cleansing? Are
you really for the genocide of the Zomi? Are you really for the
hegemony of the Bamar people over other non-Bamar people?

Please answer it honestly.
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Thursday, 24 May 2012


Name keeps ethnic group out of politics

By PETER AUNG
Published: 23 May 2012


The Union Election Commission denied the Zomi National Congress
entrance into the country’s political landscape after the party’s
registration request was rejected over a naming row.

The party, which represents the Zomi ethnic group in Chin State, won
two seats in the 1990 general elections, but the results were later
annulled by ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council in 1992.

The Zomi primarily live in Tedim and Tonzang townships in Chin state.
However, the government does not recognise the group as a separate
ethnic nationality and classify their language as a local dialect
within the country’s western state.

Union Election Commission’s deputy director Hla Maung Cho said the ZNC
was unable to register because the term ‘Zomi’ is not recognised by
the Burmese government.

“We notified them to change their title because [Zomi] was not
included on the list of ethnic nationalities recognised by the
[Immigration and National Registration Department],” said Hla Maung
Cho.

ZNC leader Pu Cint Sian Thang said that government’s denial of the
party’s right to mention their own ethnicity could lead to the
disintegration of ethnic solidarity.

“So this implies that we are not allowed to use our own dialect. This
is saddening because we just wanted to have our language in the title,
but the [UEC] rejected us citing a law that can harm the unity among
the ethnic nationalities,” said Pu Cint Sian Thang.

“It is not important whether we get to participate or not, but we are
disappointed in having our rights violated and told that [the Zomi
ethnic group] doesn’t actually exist.”

He said the party’s leaders were discussing whether the group should
try to reregister under a new title.

The ZNC has been allied with the National league for Democracy for
more than 20 years and boycotted the general elections in 2010. The
party was prepared to register and participate in April’s by-election;
however, their bid was denied by the UEC.

NLD chairman in Chin State Van Lian said the UEC’s decision was
unfair.

“The ZNC, under the same name, was allowed to participate in the 1990
election in which it won two seats,” said Van Lian. “I cannot
comprehend why they are being rejected now.”



http://www.dvb.no/news/name-keeps-ethnic-group-out-of-politics/22121

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