Chin refugees in India celebrate their National Day

New Delhi, Feb 20 : Chin students from Myanmar, who are living as refugees in New Delhi, celebrated the 52nd anniversary of Chin National Day on Wednesday.

The Chins took out a procession here and urged the Burmese military regime to allow the celebration of the Chin National Day, and to release the political prisoners and called for the support of all democratic and human rights forces for restoration of genuine democracy and human rights in Myanmar.

"Distinct identity of the Chin people should be recognized and established. The Burma Government must accept that they are distinct people who are living in Burma. This identity was recognized when Burma became free," said Surendera Mohan, a campaigner.

February 20 is a historical day for the people of Chin as way back in 1948 representatives of the Chin people voted down feudalism and despotism in all forms and established a democratic form of administration.

Recognizing the historical event, the successive governments in the Union of Burma declared it as the National Day and an official holiday, but the present military regime has prohibited its celebration.

The refugees claim that the United Nations has recognized the Chins as one of the indigenous peoples of the world, listing them 22nd in the order.

Chin is one of the ethnic groups in Burma (Myanmar). The Chins live in the western part of Burma. They also live in the Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam.

ANI