Burmese regime bans Chin historical day
February 20, 2008 - The Burmese military regime has ordered people in Chin state, Burma not to commemorate the Chin's historic day by the name of "Chin Nation Day".
Over five hundred Chins in exile held a demonstration against the Burmese junta on the street of Jantar Mantar near Parliament in New Delhi, India on Chin National Day falls on 20 of February. (Photo - Khonumthung)
The 60th anniversary of Chin National Day falls today.
Chin National Day is the day on which the people in Chin state agreed to abolish the inherited chieftainship system and practice a democratic system at a national assembly held in Falam town in Chin state on February 20, 1948.
However, the democratic system failed to take off in Chin society after the military junta seized power in 1962.
Today, the regime did not allow the people in Hakha Township, capital of Chin state to hold the national day as the Chin Nation Day and instead told them to call it the "Chin Culture Day", according to locals in Chin State.
"You all know the situation in Burma, if the regime doesn't it want we can't do anything," said a local on condition of anonymity.
Moreover, the authorities from Sagaing Division also prohibited celebrating "Chin National Day" in Kalay University campus this year. In previous years, the Kalay university students were allowed to hold their national day function in the campus.
Meanwhile, the Chin Literature and Culture Committee in Rangoon said to have celebrated its historical day in City Lion in Rangoon today. – Khonumthung.
