Permission to hold Chin National Day in Rangoon re-applied

11 February 2016 — Chin committees in Rangoon re-submitted to the authorities their application for permission to celebrate Chin National Day in the former capital on 20 February.

The Chin Literature and Culture Committee of Universities in Rangoon and the Organizing Committee for the Chin National Day celebration said that they had made another request as their initial application had been turned down.

Thang Bu, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, said: “We have already made a new application. A spokesperson from the Region Ministry of Social Affairs told us that it would be alright. So, we hope that we will get a positive answer.”

Following the formation of the Event Organising Committee on 9 January, the first application together with other required documents including letters of approval from the police, fire brigade and Ward Administrative Offices was submitted to the Ahlone Township General Administration Department on 27 January.

Samuel, CLCC President, said: “We followed the application procedures and instructions. We did what was needed as suggested but our application was not successful when we received the response.”

An official letter issued on 3 February by the Rangoon Region Government stated that permission had not been granted for organizing the events of Chin National Day and Karen National Day at the Franc Hall in Ahlone Township although applications were submitted separately and related to different calendar dates, according to the Chin organisers.

The letter that combined replies to both the Chin and Karen organisers described the reasons as being the fact that the committees are not legally registered.

However, Mai Suitaraw, former CLCC Chairperson and leader of the event organiser, said: “The CLCC is a registered body and has been getting involved in organizing the Chin National Day of celebration for years. The event is held yearly here in Rangoon.”

She said that the committee had received permission just two days before the date of celebration, 20th of February 2015, adding: “Last year, we made our application directly to the senior officials and there were misunderstanding in the process. That was the main reason why the reply was late.”

Pachhunga, a leading member of the Chin Organising Committee, said: “This year’s celebration will mark the 68th anniversary of Chin National Day. It means it has been going on for 68 years. This is not something new. Why do they reply to us in just one combined letter? Who is actually responsible? These are the questions we don’t understand and don’t have answers to.”

In their new application, the Chin organisers also attached the peace-talk agreements between the Union government and the Chin National Front and other documents containing evidence that Chin National Day was officially held in Nay Pyi Taw, Rangoon, and Hakha.

The Chin committees made their new application to the authorities on 4 February and learned that a decision is currently pending further discussion. #