The CHIN FORUM is a common platform open to all Chins of different political views or affiliations interested in working together for common democratic objectives. The FORUM is not a political party organization but an organization focused on doing research and documentation works to assist the Chin peoples' struggle for freedom and democracy. The FORUM, among others, aims to continuously strengthen the unity among the Chin democratic forces and also with all the other democratic forces of Burma, including the other ethnic nationalities. To pursue its aims and objectives the CHIN FORUM formed up three Working Groups at its inception in Ottawa (1998) and following the resolution reached during the Round Table Meetings of the Working Group I and the Chin Forum Management Body in Washington DC - USA (15 March to 1 April 1999) there are now altogether six Working Groups.


The first Chin Seminar was held successfully on April 29 to May 2, 1998 with the aims of promoting unity among all the Chin democratic forces. The said Seminar, sponsored by the Euro-Burma office, commenced with opening prayer by Rev. Dr. Chum Awi, former General Secretary of Zomi (Chin) Baptist Convention, opening speeches by Pu John Mang Tling Cinzah (Chin Ex-Member of Parliament and former Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affair), Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister of National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB), Mr. Harn Yawnghwe, Director of Euro-Burma office, Mr. Jack Sterken, Burma Donors Secretariat and Mr. Gary Rosema, Burma Relief Centre (BRC). The Seminar was attended by 17 Chin compatriots including elected MPs, respected intellectuals, and freedom fighters inside and outside of Chinland of Burma. Following the Chin Seminar (Ottawa, Canada), all the participants agree to form Chin Forum.

The Statement of the Chin Seminar

1. The Chin Seminar, organized by the Chin National Front (CNF), and attended by 17 Chin compatriots including elected Chin MP's respected intellectuals, and freedom fighters from inside and outside Chinland of today's Union of Burma, was successfully held in Ottawa, Canada, on April 29 to May 2, 1998.

2. Chinland, a formerly free State, was co-founder of the Union of Burma under the Panglong Agreement.

3. The military regime discarded the 1947 democratic Constitution which safeguarded the Panglong Agreement. Therefore we, the Chin people, consider ourselves as a free nation until and unless a constitution which guarantees our rights is proclaimed.

4. The problem of the Union of Burma started because of unequal treatment of the nationalities by the successive Burmese governments since independence. This unequal treatment has been increased by the military dictatorship especially in the areas where non-Burmans reside.

5. The military regime has convened a sham national convention with handpicked delegates to prolong and legitimize the military dictatorship. This national convention deepens the national hatred and suspicions instead of solving the political crisis.

6. Since the military took over power, there are rampant human rights violations, religious and racial persecutions causing an exodus of Chin refugees to India as well as other countries.

7. The cease-fire arrangement between the military regime and some other armed nationality opposition groups can not solve the present political crisis because of the absence of political dialogue.

8. In order to solve the political crisis of the Union of Burma and the refugee situation, we demand tripartite dialogue which has been called for by the United Nations as well as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This involves dialogue between the Burman Democratic Forces, the Burmese Military and the Non-Burman Democratic Forces.

9. Under genuine democracy and the right of self-determination in its fullest extent, we are willing to work together to consolidate unity among all nationalities in Burma to form a Federal Union.

Date : 3 May 1998
Place : Ottawa, Canada

For more information, please visit the official website of the Chin Forum at http://www.chinforum.org