They said on the 60th Chin National Day held in India and Thailand that Chin people would oppose the referendum to seek approval of the constitution to be held in May this year and new elections to be held in 2010 as it does not reflect the will of the people.
"We vehemently oppose the junta's referendum. We totally reject the elections to be held in 2010. They will hold the referendum as they held the National Convention (NC) by forcing the people to attend. This time they will do the same, forcing every household to go and vote otherwise they will be punished. The referendum under coercion and intimidation cannot produce a genuine constitution. So we cannot accept the junta's referendum," Ko San Nga, Chairman of 'Chin Student's Union' (CNU) said.
Dr. Sui Khar, the Foreign Affairs in-charge of 'Chin National Front' (CNF), said at the Chin National Day celebration held in Thailand, "We have already opposed their National Convention from the very beginning. But they don't care and continued with their NC. Now they will hold the referendum in a similar manner despite our opposition. But we have to fight against it with the help of people and the international community".
Chin people observe the Chin National Day to commemorate the day of abolishing feudalism in Chin State, leading to a democratic state in accordance with the will of the people, in the first Chin mass rally held in Phalam, Chin State on February 20 1948.
Victor Biak Lian, the Secretary of India based 'Chin National Council' (CNC) told Mizzima, "We are calling for democracy today. We must fight military dictatorship collectively and replace it with a democratic system. This is the task of the Chin people and all other ethnics".
As the survival of all Chin people is the national task of the entire Chin population, the unity and solidarity of the Chin people should be enhanced, the CNC statement issued today said.
Moreover the Chin people urged the junta in today's demonstration to allow the Chin people in Burma to celebrate their Chin National Day freely.
"However hard they try to abolish the celebration of Chin National Day all Chin people will hold the celebration eternally as an auspicious day," Dr. Sui Khar said.
Similarly it is learnt that the 60th Chin National Day celebrations were held today in a grand scale elsewhere in the world in Japan, Germany, Australia, Malaysia and the US with music, dance and concerts.
