ZoRO states stand on Zo re-unification
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kanggui, October 15 2013: Zo-Re-unification Organization (ZoRO) stands for the "Restoration of the fundamental Rights of Zo people which have been deprived thereof by way of Tripartite Divisions i.e.India, Burma and Bangladesh and it should be restored by way of Re-unification and thereafter to let them avail of their fundamental freedom towards a peaceful self-determination", Thangchinlal Simte, General Secretary ZoRO Northern Zone, has stated.

The ZoRO Northern Zone General Secretary was speaking in connection with the of the Organization's Conference-cum-Celebration of the 68th Anniversary of United Nation Day due to be held at Galngam Lentol, Moreh, Chandel on 24 Oct.2013 .

Mentioned may be made that, Zo-Re-unification Organization (ZoRO) is going to organize a day-long ZoRO Conference-cum-Celebration of the 68th Anniversary of United Nation under the theme "Salvation for the Zo People" under the aegis of ZoRO Northern Zone where the ZoRO GHQ.

President Pu R.Thangmawi will grace the occasion as Chief Guest.

Renowned artistes from different places like Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and Barak Valley (Assam) from India; Chittagong Hill Tracts from Bangladesh including Chin State and Kachin from Myanmar where Zo people settled today as well as Cultural Show of various groups of Zo(Kuki-Chin-Mizo) people will mark the occasion, according to the organizing committee.

While tracing the history of ZoRO, Thangchilal Simte said that it was with the objective for cultural, social and political re-unification of Zo people that Zo Re-unification Organization was formed by various leaders representing different groups from Chin State, Mizoram, Manipur and other places where Zo people settled in the year 1988 at Champhai in Mizoram-a border town with Burma (Myanmar) .

Since 2000 AD ZoRO has been invited and participated in various sessions of United Nations Working Groups on Indigenous People (UNWGIP) and subsequently ZoRO has been recognized as member in United Nation Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issue (UNPFII) in 2004, added the ZoRO Northern Zone General Secretary.

He also said that ZoRO has been compelled by the political atmosphere to the Second and Third World Zo Re-unification Convention at Vannapa Hall, Zoram (Aizawl) in July 1991 and October 4, 2013 respectively to foster the relations of the Zo people.

Simte continued that the recent Third World Zo Re-unification Convention attended by various leaders from Manipur, Tripura, Bangladesh and Chin State from Myanmar as well as presidents from all major political parties of Mizoram is a Milestone for the organization wherein the Zo Inpui (the Assembly of Zo representative) was inaugurated by the Governor of Mizoram adding that five political parties of Mizoram in a separate statement appreciates the ZoRO movement for re-unification of Zo people scattered at different countries viz.India, Burma and Bangladesh and agreed to extend maximum efforts for implementation of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Zosonte) if a ministry could be formed by their respective party in Mizoram.

Simte also said that Zo people were called by different names but this nomenclature referred to the same people.

Gierson's Linguistic Survey of India (1903), John Shakespear (1912), William Shaw (1929), NE Parry (1931) and so on shared their first hand views about the Zo people and for instance Shakespear said, "There is no doubt that the Kukis, Chins and Lushais are all of the same Race" .

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