Zomi National Congress
Encyclopedia
The Zomi National Congress (ZNC) is the name of a political party
in Burma, registered in 1988. It was permitted to function as a political organization until 1992, when the Burma military government
abolished the party, and banned it from all political activities. While heavily oppressed as an un-sanctioned party, ZNC still exists within Burma, and is part of the global Zomi
people movement.
Chin Sian Thang
, 67, is chairman of the Zomi National Congress. Elected as a Member of Parliament during Burma's ill-fated 1990 elections
, he has worked diligently for many years in defiance of the country’s ruling junta. During the 1960s, Chin Sian Thang served as a leader of the Chin Ethnic Student Union while a student at Rangoon University. He has been imprisoned on at least six occasions by successive military regimes for his political activities between 1972 and 1999. In each instance, he served two years, during which he was subjected to brutal interrogations that led to permanent health problems.
He also serves as a member of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament, a group supported by 251 candidates elected in 1990. Considered a moderate ethnic leader, Chin Sian Thang heavily promotes the CRPP as a rallying point for Burmese activists and ethnic leaders.He is the most outspoken elected ethnic leader in Burma. He is the coauthor of "In Burma, a Cry for U.N. Help"
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Burma, registered in 1988. It was permitted to function as a political organization until 1992, when the Burma military government
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
abolished the party, and banned it from all political activities. While heavily oppressed as an un-sanctioned party, ZNC still exists within Burma, and is part of the global Zomi
Zomi
Zomi is the name of a major tribe found in various parts of South and South East Asia. The term Zomi meaning, 'Zo People' is derived from the generic name 'Zo', the progenitor of the Zomi. They are found in northwestern Myanmar, northeastern India and Bangladesh. Anthropologists classify them as...
people movement.
Chin Sian Thang
Chin Sian Thang
Chin Sian Thang is chairman of the Zomi National Congress, a political party in Burma. Elected as a member of Parliament during Burma’s ill-fated 1990 elections, he has worked diligently for many years in defiance of the country’s ruling junta. During the 1960s, Chin Sian Thang served as a leader...
, 67, is chairman of the Zomi National Congress. Elected as a Member of Parliament during Burma's ill-fated 1990 elections
Burmese general election, 1990
General elections were held in Burma on 27 May 1990, the first multi-party elections since 1960, after which the country had been ruled by a military dictatorship...
, he has worked diligently for many years in defiance of the country’s ruling junta. During the 1960s, Chin Sian Thang served as a leader of the Chin Ethnic Student Union while a student at Rangoon University. He has been imprisoned on at least six occasions by successive military regimes for his political activities between 1972 and 1999. In each instance, he served two years, during which he was subjected to brutal interrogations that led to permanent health problems.
He also serves as a member of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament, a group supported by 251 candidates elected in 1990. Considered a moderate ethnic leader, Chin Sian Thang heavily promotes the CRPP as a rallying point for Burmese activists and ethnic leaders.He is the most outspoken elected ethnic leader in Burma. He is the coauthor of "In Burma, a Cry for U.N. Help"