Dr. Salai Lian H. Sakhong’s Book ‘Federalism And Ethnic Issues In Burma’ Launched
A new book by Chin scholar Dr. Salai Lian H. Sakhong was launched last Saturday at Chiang Mai University Campus – International Centre, Thailand. Written in Burmese, the book is entitled ‘Federalism And Ethnic Issues In Burma’.
The book, which is a collection of Dr. Sakhong’s articles and speeches on democracy, equality and rights of self-determination from 1988 to 2008 with 21 chapters and 370 pages, was published in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the ‘8888’ uprising in Burma.
A total of 38 people including Professor Win Min from Asian Studies Department of Chiang Mia University, Aung Naing Oo, Research Fellow at VAHU, Khun Sai, Editor of Shan Herald Agency for News and Soe Myint, Editor of Mizzima News attended the launch and discussion.
“Through these articles in the book, it is an honour and well understood that Ko Salai [Dr. Lian H. Sakhong] has accepted and acted in accordance with the principles laid down regarding the ethnic issues since the past 20 years,” said Mizzima News Editor Soe Myint, adding his comments and admiration for the book with such political records in the 1990s.
Professor Win Min recommended the book as a good reference to exploring the ethnic issues in Burma, encouraging more publications of good books like Dr. Sakhong’s. Through this book with ultimate goals, we became to understand more about the feelings and sufferings of our ethnic fellows, Aung Naing Oo said.
A question-and-answer discussion continued with the participants over the book.
The author, winner of the 2007 Martin Luther King Prize, said at the end of the discussion that he hoped reading the book, though not perfect, might help bring about peace and understanding among the ethnic nationalities and that perfection comes from evaluating and finding solutions to the imperfections as he thanked the audience for their participation.
Dr. Salai Lian H. Sakhong, former General Secretary of Ethnic Nationalities Council, has also authored two other well-known books such as In search of Chin identity: A Study in Religion, Politics and Ethnic Identity in Burma, and Religion and Politics among the Chin people in Burma (1896-1949).
Van Biak Thang and Thangpi
29 October, 2008
