Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) press conference & report launch at FCCT, Bangkok
- 5th September 2012
Chin Human Rights Organization
P.O. Box 202, Phrasing Post Office,
Chiang Mai, Thailand 50205
Tel: +66.53.210.302
www.chro.ca
[email protected]
Press Conference: Report Launch -
" 'Threats to Our Existence': Persecution of Ethnic Chin Christians in Burma"
[Bangkok, Thailand] On Wednesday 5 September 2012 the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) will hold a press conference to launch its new report, " 'Threats to Our Existence': Persecution of Ethnic Chin Christians in Burma."
The report examines the issue of freedom of religion for ethnic Chin Christians, both under previous military regimes, and the current nominally-civilian government in Burma. The report exposes serious ongoing human rights violations, even as the government claims to deepen its reforms in the country.
For years, state-sanctioned deep-rooted discrimination against the Chin on the dual basis of their ethnicity and religion has given rise to widespread and systematic violations of fundamental human rights, particularly religious freedom. Based on over 100 qualitative interviews and in-depth research conducted over the past two years, the report reveals that the Chin continue to be denied religious freedom and are targeted for induced and coerced conversion to Buddhism, in pursuance of an unwritten State policy of forced assimilation.
In publishing this report CHRO hopes to deepen understanding of religious freedom violations in Burma, and their far-reaching impact. CHRO also aims to highlight the urgent need to place minority and indigenous rights at the heart of the democratic transition process in the country.
What: Press conference to launch " 'Threats to Our Existence': Persecution of Ethnic Chin Christians in Burma."
When: 10.30am Wednesday 5 September 2012
Where: The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand
The Penthouse, Maneeya Center
518/5 Ploenchit Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
+66 02-652-0580/1 (office)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.fccthai.com
Speakers: Salai Za Uk Ling, CHRO Program Director
Rachel Fleming, CHRO Advocacy Director
About the Chin Human Rights Organization
The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) is a non-governmental, non-profit advocacy organization legally registered in Canada. It was formed in 1995 on the India-Burma border by a group of Chin activists committed to promoting democracy in Burma, and documenting previously unreported human rights abuses being perpetrated against the Chin people by the Burma Army and local authorities, instruments of the State. CHRO is the primary rights-based advocacy organization for the Chin.
About the Chin people of Burma
Around 500,000 ethnic Chin live in the northwestern area of Chin State in Burma. The Chin are ethnically very diverse. The six main tribes of Asho, Cho (Sho), Khumi (M'ro), Laimi, Mizo (Lushai), and Zomi (Kuki) can be further broken up into at least 60 different sub-tribal categories, including the Mara. The Chin speak more than 20 mutually distinct languages. Despite such diversity, the Chin are unified through a common history, geographical homeland, traditional practices, ethnic identity and religion.
* This announcement was sent to e-pao.net by Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) who can be contacted at info(at)chro(dot)ca
was posted on August 29, 2012.
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