First World Zomi Convention Declaration 1988

FIRST WORLD ZOMI CONVENTION
Venue: Champai: Mizoram
May 19–21, 1988

DECLARATION

“We, the people of Zo ethnic group,

Inhabitants of the highlands in

The Chin Hills and Arakans of Burma,

The Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh,

The Mizoram State and adjoining hill areas of India

Are descendants of one ancestor.

Our language, our culture and tradition,

And no less, our social and customary practices

Are clear evidences of these ethnological facts.

Further, our historical records,

And footprints both written and unwritten

In the sands of time testify

To the truth of our common ancestry.

 

Much against the interest for preservation,

Consolidation and progression of our ethnic identity,

The British colonial rulers after subjugating us

During the later part of the 19th century,

Exercised the imperialistic policy

Of ‘Divide and Rule’.

As a result, our ancestral homeland was divided,

So were members of the Zo community distributed

Like cattle sold and separated.

Adding grave insult to injury,

The emergence of the sovereign state

Of India, Burma and Pakistan in 1940s

Had the administrative fragmentations aggravated

And gave birth to deeper agonies of separation

For the constitutional laws of respective countries

Divided Zo ethnic origin into different nationalities.

 

For better part of the century,

Largely because of our limited outlook

Both in terms historical and political,

The gravity of our uncertain situation

And the danger for our ethnological demise

Received no meaningful political response.

The genocidal threat of neo-colonialism

Against our Zo ethnic survival

Still remain ever unprecedented.

 

Now with political consciousness gaining momentum,

And the spirit of nationalism quickening us

Come fuller realization of our human rights

And of our political prerogatives

We cannot but feel burdened

With the paramount importance of Zo Reunification

For preservation and existence of Zo ethnic identity.

 

Re-asserting, therefore, our faith and confidence

In the code of comity of nation

For redeeming injustices done to Zo ethnic origin,

We, the delegates to the First World Zo Convention of Zo Reunification

Ethnically enshrined on this day

In Twentieth Day of the Month of May

In the year of our Lord Nineteen Eighty–Eight

Upon the altar of Zo Reunification

As under:

 

CHARTER OF AGREEMENT

I

We solemnly affirm the truth

That members of Zo ethnic origin

Now living in Burma, India and Bangladesh

Are people of common ancestry

Speaking a common language,

Blessed with common social,

Cultural and religious background,

And destined to common political fate and destiny.

 

II

We sincerely pledge and affirm

Solidarity and integration to take on

A just struggle for Zo Re-Unification

Under one Administrative umbrella

In conformity with the resolution of the Chin–Lushai Conference

Held at Ford William, Calcutta

On January 29, 1892.

 

III

We firmly hold the universal truth

That our political aspirations for Zo Reunification

Regardless of international boundary constraints

Are the inalienable rights of all Zo ethnic origin.

Further, we solemnly acknowledge the claim

For Zo Re-unification to be wholly legitimate.

 

IV

We firmly adopt the principle of non-violence

For attaining the Zo Re unification.

 

V

We sincerely appeal to the consciences

Of all heads of States and Governments

Under whom Zo Communities are citizens respectively

To recognize and acknowledge

The rightful claim for Zo Reunification.

Further, we appeal to one and all

Believing in the Universal Human Rights

To lend support to the just struggle

For Zo Reunification

At all levels and at different stages.”

 

ORGANISATION

In order to promote the just struggle

For Zo Re-unification –

We solemnly affirm and resolve

That a loose political forum

Called the “ZO RE–UNIFICATION ORGANISATION” be formed.

(And is hereby formed)

Further, we resolve that

Zo re-unification Organisation (ZORO)

Be a forum covering all political parties

And individuals –

 

(i) Acknowledging the rightful claim

For Zo Re-unification;

 

(ii) Accepting the paramount importance

Of Zo Re-unification

Above and beyond party politics, and

 

(iii) Willing to subscribe the ideas and views

As may develop time to time

Through the forum of ZORO.

 

WE affirm and resolve that

(i) ZORO as a forum shall not interfere

In any local political programmes and activities

Of any constituent political party;

 

(ii) No constituent political unit of ZORO

In absence of consultation with ZORO

Shall organize any local political party activities

As may adversely affect the objectives of ZORO;

 

(iii) Any of the political parties

Involving and participating in ZORO

Shall enjoy the privilege of exercising certain discretions

As to form frontal organizations

Within the respective party concerned

Primarily for promotion of the just struggle

For Zo Reunification, and

 

(iv) ZORO, as a forum, shall normally finalise

Important policy decisions

In matters related directly or indirectly

To the just struggle for Zo Re-unification.

 

WE, the Undersigned,

For and on behalf of Zo people,

Living and children yet to be born,

Look to God in prayer,

And seal this document with our signatures.

 

LONG LIVE ZO RE–UNIFICATION.

SIGNED BY 40 DELEGATES REPRESENTING DIFFERENT ORGANISATIONS. AND NINETY EIGHT OTHERS.

 

 ZO RE–UNIFICATION ORGANIZATION (ZORO)

General Headquarters, Aizawl, Mizoram

 

MILLENIUM DECLARATION

On this auspicious 108th ANNIVERSARY of the CHIN–LUSHAI CONFERENCE 29th January Millennium year, We, the delegates of the ZO Re–Unification Convention, reaffirm the commitment anew and proclaim:

- We the indigenous people of the ZO country proclaim and declare that ZO is our Nationality.

- Our objective is restoration of Fundamental Rights by re-unifying our people.

- We affirm solidarity to take up the struggle for Re-Unification.

- We salute the freedom fighters of our fathers.

- We strongly protest British colonial administration’s act of dividing our country.

- We appeal to the international community to recognize our basic human rights.

 

(R.W. ROZATHANG)
Chairman
 
(R. THANGMAWIA)
Secretary General

DATED AIZAWL THE 30TH OCTOBER 1988

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