63rd Chin National Day Speech

Ps. 19:1 The heavens declare Thy glory...

Prov. 14:34 Righteousness exalted the nation (How great Thou art.)

The Legacies of Chin National Day

By

Rev.Dr. Dennis S. Maung

Introduction:

Honorable President, Mr. Van Ivan, Secretary, and members of the 63rd CND Celebration Committee, Philippines; honorable guests from Union Theological Seminary-Philippine Christian University, being led by its President the Rev. Dr. Ferdinand Ammang Anno; dustinguished guests from our fellow ethnic indigenous people of the Kachin, the Shan and the Karen, distinguished guests from our fellow Chins who are residing in India and Bangladesh, our friends from Vietnam and Philippines, and beloved fellow Chins, brothers and sisters, Good after noon!

I am grateful to the 63rd CND Committee for giving me special privilege to deliver a short speech on this auspicious and elegant day of the whole Chin people. I will not reiterate the genealogy and the territory of the Chins at this moment but I would like to remind you of the legacies of CND. Why the CND and what for, must be strongly emphasized today.

1. Chin National Democracy.

My fellow Chins:

The first legacy of the CND is self determination. The Chin people have the right to make decisions by ourselves. Self determination is the heart, the life and the aspiration of our forefathers. The pioneers of the CND were the members of the Chin Affairs Council (Chin Government), organized right after Aung San-Attlee Treaty in 1947: they were

Pu Vuantu Maung (Kanpelet)...Chin Minister

Capt. Mang Tung Nung (Teddim)...Secretary

Pu Lian Tthum (Hakkha)...Chairman

Pu Hlur Hmung (Falam)...Member

Pu That Hlaing (Paletwua)...Member

Pu Sang Ning (Matupi)...Member

After a thorough discussion over the designation of CND at the first council meeting of the Chin Affairs Council in October 1950, all the members agreed and approved February 20 as Chin National Day because February 20 is significant that it was the day of the Chin Peoples Assembly in Falam carefully determined and willingly accepted to apply Democracy in Chinland. The Chin Peoples General Assembly, attended by 5000 Chins, was conducted from February 19-22 in 1948. On February 20, they enthusiastically accepted ideology and principles of Democracy in which they believed self determination is fully realized. Self determination means self decision making power, freedom, rights and equality. Therefore Pu Lian Tthum, Chairman of the Chin Affairs Council promulgated to observe February 20 as Chin National Day. Faith of our fathers living still. As we observe Chin National Day, let all the Chin people strive forward until democracy is fully realized in Chinland.

2. Chin National Unity

My fellow Chins:

The second legacy of CND is Chin National Unity. Unity is extremely needed in nation building. We have heard that Unity is strength. United we stand and divided we fall. Unfortunately, some narrow-minded people and leaders among the Chins have devisive ideas due to our differences and self interests. However, their devisive ideas may not effect us, we still belong to Chin National. Our different locations cannot devide us. Our different dialects cannot seprate us. All these differences are mighty bonds to strongly and firmly binds all the Chins together. These differences are the beauty of Chinland and Chin nation. Our forefathers gave us precious and valuable legacy of Unity. It was signified by the General Assembly of the Chin people where 5000 participants attended in Falam in 1948 and discussed the Chin's Affairs. They unitedly gathered together and raised the same voice. They loved each other, they encouraged each other and working for the common cause of the Chins other than their own townships and villages. It was so honorable that our leaders unitedly stood for the common good of the whole Chin. It was Falam Spirit indeed. This Spirit would be nurtured and maintained by all the Chins. The CND is the time to affirm our diversed culture, language and ways of life to expose the beauty and unity of our beings. This celebration binds us all the Chins into one. We must keep this CND alive so that the Falam Spirit also be alive in us. With this Spirit, we would be stronger in our struggle for democracy and freedom. This national day reminded us to be united into one Chin national body. National cohesiveness would be strongly pursued. This Chin National Day clearly indicated that we, the Chins are a very distinctive nation of the world. We must be united and strong for our common cause of freedom and dignity. There were times that people in authority attempted to wipe out Chin National Day. They tried to replace it by 1) Chin Flower Festival Day ( It was in 1956 December 4, under Chin Minister Pu Za Hre Lian, and MP Pu Thang Lian, both are from Pasabala party. They won parliament election in 1956 and on the first Chin Parliament Assembly in July, 1956, MP Thang Lian proposed to abolish CND), 2) next attempt was in 1966, imposed by Burma Socialist Program Party to change the CND into Chin Special Division Day because Burman authority was uncomfortable with the term "Chin National"; 3) finally the Burmese authority tried to divert CND into Chin State Day in 1974 right after refrandum. Indeed, CND bears National spirit. It is Chin National Day. The day that our forefathers unanimously designated as "Chin National Day". It is today February 20. In 1958, this day was approved by the Cabibet and the Parliament to be designated as Burma Gazetted Holiday but was not sign by the President to put into law (I don't know why). Therefore, my Chin fellow brothers and sisters, let us recognize and acknowledge this day for National Unity and solidarity. Let us rise up in one accord for national unity and solidarity for freedom.

3. Chin National Identity

My beloved Fellow Chins

The third legacy of the CND is Chin National Identity. The CND has become Chin Identity. It has been celebrated since 1951 in Mindat and on and on up till today. All the Chins in all over the world are celebrating today as our National Day to testify that we are the Chins. Therefore the CND is our Identity.

Furthermore, we all know that all nations in this world have their own symbols, fauna and flora, festivals and celebrations on designated days and times to signify their identities. We, the Chins also do. Our symbol is Hornbill. It signifies loyalty, faithfulness and honesty. The Chins are faithful and honest. We are trustworthy. If you are a Chin, you are trustworthy. If you are a Chin, you are a Christian. Gracefully and gloriously, being a Christian has become Chin identity in Burma. We had the history that the Chin was not know how to tell a lie. The Chin never told a lie and never deceived others. Truth is their necklace. Today, our Chin identity is nobility, purity, integrity and loyalty. Let us keep our identity alive as we celebrate this auspicious CND.

Conclusion:

Beloved fellow Chins, let us keep the CND legacies alive, as of democracy, unity and identity. Democracy, unity and identity are the CND's legacies. Let's keep alive these legacies throughout our lives. May God bless all the Chin people.