By: Thang Ginlun Valte
In January, 1972 an Executive Committee of the United Zomi Organisation(UZO) was held at Daijang which Mr.T.Gougin attended. He tried to convince the members that UZO is not only for Zou community but make it a banner under which all the ethnic groups can come in. The UZO members were not so pleased at the new perception. Having understood the crux of the problem, with some followers, he bid goodbye and endorsed the decision to form a new party known as Zomi National Congress.
Mr.T Gougin was the founding father of United Zomi Organisation in 1961 at Singtom village. Initially, though it was meant to unite all the Zou speaking people under one umbrella, later Mr T.Gougin and his team tried to enlarge the scope of UZO. He exhorted the UZO Executive members not to confine the nomenclature strictly within a limited sphere of Zou Tribe only because Zomi is for all, not for one particular community. They wished to expand the activity of Zomi group who are widely known as Kuki-Chin-Mizo and divided into a number of sub-tribes such as Gangte, Paite, Zou, Simte, Hmar, Thadou, Vaiphei etc.
The Zomi National Congress (ZNC) was formed on 21st January, 1972 at Daijang, South District, Manipur. Under the leadership of T Gougin, as President and S.K. Samte (Semkhopau) as Secretary, the oganisation seeks the re-unification of the Zomi of Burma and India and also submitted a memorandum to the then President of India V. V. Giri. It was at the initiative of the party that the First World Zomi Convention was held at Champhai, Mizoram from May 19 -21, 1988.
According to Mr.T.Gougin, “the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was out of necessity, so also the birth of Zomi National Congress was for the good of the age-old down-trodden known as Zomis. Christ was necessary for the salvation of mankind whereas the birth of the Zomi National Congress was necessary for the political salvation of all the Zomis (Known by others as Kuki, Chin and Mizo)”. Till the birth of ZNC there was no party which thought of the unification of the Zomis and their political emancipation. The ZNC’s ultimate goal is nothing less then the unification of all the Zomis.
A special session of ZNC was held on 8-9th July, 1983 in which a Political Resolution was mooted by by S.Thangkhangin, the then Secretary of the organisation who replaced S.K Samte. The resolution said: “Resolved that all Zomis should live together under the Administrative umbrella with the protection and care of the Indian Union”. The resolution was seconded by the President of All Zomi Students’ Association (Delhi), Mr.Holkholun Tungdim. A memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister of India for the creation of Union Territory for Zomis as adopted by the Supreme Council of ZNC on 4th December 1983. Grassroot campaign had began from September 1983 onwards. By July 1984, 60 ZNC Block Offices were established in the District in almost all the villages in Thanlon Sub-Division, Singngat, Parbung, Sajiktampak, Ziontlang, Chalva(Sadar Hills) etc[3].
A special congress was convened at Kangkap Village on 24-25th January 1985 where important resolutions were adopted. It once again resolved to demand for the union Territory and resolved to send deputations to Delhi. ZNC Annual Congress at Lamka and Mata Mualtam on 18-20th February 1986 also demanded for the same and shouted slogan. Of all the ZNC Assemblies, the congress of 1987 at Lamka was the biggest. There were roughly 5000 people drawn from all areas of Manipur and neighbouring States. On 18thNovember 1984 a historic long march/procession (264kms. Long) of 252 volunteers was taken out by ZNC/ZRV from Tipaimukh via Thanlon to Deputy Commissioner’s Office at Tuibuang,Headquarters of Churachandpur(Lamka) District. They reach Lamka Public Ground on 27th November 1984. A memorandum was submitted requesting the immediate implementation of their earlier demands.
ZNC/ZRV have a flag with a green background. The green colour symbolises the unripe, underdeveloped, untapped natural resourcesof Zoland. Three stars placed in a corner represent the three countries namely India, Myanmar and Bangladesh in which Zo ethnic people live, divided. It also may mean the Trinitarian aspect of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit of Christian Faith that the Zo Re-Unification movement may be strengthened and guided by the Goadhead. The red (small patch) represents the possibility of sacrificing one’s life for the creation of Zoland, The much dreamt-land of the Zomis.
The first World Zomi Convention took place at Champhai (Mizoram) from 19-21st May 1988. As per a pact signed between the Zomi National Congress and People’s Conference led by T.Gougin and Brig. T. Sailo respectively on the 5th April 19888, the convention was held. About 600 Zomi Revolutionary Volunteers(ZRV) reached Champhai on 17th May led by H.Lalneihthang, Vice-President ZNC and other ZRVs. At the convention, the committee adopted unanimously two drafts followed by selection of new office bearers for the newly formed Zomi Re-Unification Organisation (ZoRO) on the 20th May 19888 at champhai. ZoRo was later changed into Zo Re-unification Organisation.
The Office Bearers of ZoRO were:
Sailo : Chairman
T.Gougin : Vice President
C.Chawngkunga : Vice Chairman
S.Thangkhangin : Secretary General
Lalhmingthanga : Secretary General
R.Thangmawia : Treasurer
Capt. L.Z Sailo : Consultant
After the conference, a long march of volunteers was taken from Champhai to Aizawl to commemorate the unity of Zo ethnic group in their aspiration to unite under one administrative unit one day.
(Following are Paite Dialect, transcript from Zawlpi souvenir. 2012.)
“KANGKAP ZNC GENERAL CONGRESS THUPUKNA[4]:
22nd – 25th January 2015
Neek-le-dawn, inten-louten haksatna tuang a thupukna( Resolution on Economic Problems):
Pu S.Thangkhangin, Party General Secretary in a puaklut-
I gamsung kial-le-taak douna 6points Demand mipi tawh pangkhawm a hatsem a phut a, lohchinsak teitei diing. Bial chih a Sub Divisional Office (SDO) te’n amau bial chiat kial gam (famine effected area) chi a a report diing uh.
Buh-le-bal piangzah simna a bawlkhit ahih chiang in SDO te’n February kha sung ngei a report a zawhsiang diing uh ahi.
Anntang(civil supply) thu tawh kisai in sumhausate’n(contractors) mipi liangvaite nesia leh negu ahihman un solkar in ZNC party tawh kithuah a anntang hawm lam ngaihtuah diing a lemsak ahi.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) in civil Supply Department tungtawn a kialgamte a anntang hawmkhia in, tuate mipi’ theih diing in thukizakna(news paper) ah taklang gige hen.
Solkar tawh kisai a nna(job) leh development fund, grant leh sanction hong paite, party heutu theih louh in MLA leh officer te’n sumdawnna a zang lou diing a lemsak ahi. Kaam (job) leh grant/sanction omte theihsakna(advertisement) bawl a achin mite (qualified persons) nasepna leh sanction piak diing chih thupukna kibawl hi.
Indian Union i lut nung kum 35 (Manipur state Indian Union nuai a alut nung) sung in mipite’n sum-le-pai adik-atang a amu diingte’n a muh louh ziak un thuneitute (authorities) tung ah mipi’n khovel theih a lungkimlouhna puankhiak ahi diing hi. Phualpi Solkar (Central Govt) a sum sensate diktak a zat ahih leh hih louh suizui (Enquiry Commission) diing lemsak ahi.
Singtang loubawlna (Jhum Cultivation) in mipite’ nekzonna ah khamkhop piangsak nawn lou ahihman in phualpi solkar in akintheipen a singtangmite’ nekzonna diing a bawlsakpah diing ahi chih lemsak ahi.
Manipur kumpi(state) in Block Headquarters teng ah tuktui luanma ngei a anntang stock uh hen chih lemsak ahi.
State solkar (Manipur) in lamlian hoih louhna(Gari tun theih louhna) munte ah Lenna a pan khiat (air dropping) ahihkei leh Porter Charge neihna diing bawl//ngaihsun hen.
ZRV(Zomi Revolutionary Volunteer) te’n anntang thu tawh kisai a corrupt, mimal contractor or official a muh untuh Tuivaili ah engpelep(nung leh heen) in a khia diing uh. ZNC in kumpi’ masawnna diing a geeltheihsun ahi.
Atung a resolution nos. 1-9 lawhchinna diing in Elected Members/MLA/MDC te athu hilh vek ahi dia, mipi angma khualloute (atung a resolution te gum lou) mipi’n dop louh diing chih lemsak ahi.
Nnasepdan diing thil bangkim Zomi Innpi Vaisaipawl(ZIV) Secretariat te’ khut ah thuneihna piak ahi a, amau chihdandan mipi’n i sihpih diing uh chih lem a kisa hi. ZNC economic leh political resolution te Governor, Chief Minister leh Prime Minister kiang a piak ding chih lem akisa hi.
Pu Nehkhojang, Joint Secretary in anuai a resolution a move zong kituaktak a pom ahi. “Kiel-le-taah douna diing in Government in food for work programme in bawl hen. Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) leh North East Region Power Systems Improvement Project (NERP SIP) pieh chieng in follow-up zong govt. ban ah ZRV in bawl hen”.
Pu L.S Lamboi, Vice Chairman, Thanlon BLC in anuai a a puaklut zong lemsak ahi. “ZNC kial douna 6points Demand gamdang solkal ah bawl hina.”
PARTY PRESIDENT PU T. GOUGIN IN POLITICAL RESOLUTION A PUAKLUTTE, GENERAL CONGRESS IN THUPUKNA A BAWL HIAI ANUAI A BANG AHI:
ZNC Constitution a kigelh dungzui in policy te a paipih diing hi.
ZNC in Zomite’ political right neihna diing lampi sial zom zel diing a, political dinmun(status) hoihzaw Union Territory sang a niamzaw lou neihna diing in India solkar kithuahpihna leh pilna a ngen zel diing hi.
ZNC in palai 5 Delhi ah February kha sung in sawl lemsa a, Indian leader tuamtuam, PM leh a dangdang mu diing. Tua palai a sawlna diing in innlusi ah buh tin khat ahihkei leh Rs.15/- thohlawm piak chiat diing. February ni 15 ma ngei a Headquarters ah submit chiant diing a lemsak ahi.
ZNC in Zomite’ political right neihna diing lampi sial zom zel diing a, political dinmun(status) hoihzaw Union Territory sang a niamzaw lou neihna diing in India solkar kithuahpihna leh pilna a ngen zel diing hi.
ZNC in palai 5 Delhi ah February kha sung in sawl lemsa a, Indian leader tuamtuam, PM leh a dangdang mu diing. Tua palai a sawlna diing in innlusi ah buh tin khat ahihkei leh Rs.15/- thohlawm piak chiat diing. February ni 15 ma ngei a Headquarters ah submit chiant diing a lemsak ahi.
Atung a thupuknate pen Pu S.Thangkhangin, party General Secretary in bawlthak (amendment) hihen chi’n anuai ah point te bawlthak diing in hon polut a, lungkilualtak a bawlthak ahi. Aziak tuh sum don thu ah ZNC mite kia lak louh diing, party dang hi in party neiloute leng/zong Union Territory demand leh kial douna in upkhavek ahihziak un. ZNC party fund dong kihi lou a, U.T demand fund Delhi a palaite hohna diing (6-points demand phutna diing) tawh kisai ahihziak in.
Mi kuapeuh Zogam/Zoram U.T demand khakna sung a teengte inlusi in buh tin khat ahihkei leh Rs.10/- Union Territory demand fund diing a piak chiat diing ahi. Thohlawm khempeuh February 15, 1985 ma ngei a Heqdquarter tunsak diing. Pu Ruma, treasurer khut a lutvek diing chih lemsak ahi.
ZNC party in party Election Symbol tuam a ngenta diing hi. Election a percent i muhzah uh taklang in.
Zomi Hausate’n (Chiefs) ngeina dan bang a hausa hihna (Customary Chiefship) lentou uh hen; Zomite’n Political Status (U.T) muhma teng.
Party General Congress (PGC) in pupa’ tawndan leh ngeina hoih leh zattak khempeuh kepbit diing lem a kisa hi.
Khosung-khotang nun siatna bawl leh ngaihtuah pawl leh nekguk-takguk chiing Official hi’n Non-Official hileh phiatmang diing in Cultural Revolution hatsak diing chih lemsak ahi.
PGC in Churachandpur Municipality lakkhiat a Town Committee koih lem akisa hi.
Manipuri Language (meitei) Compulsory Subject Pawl sawm tan pen Obtional Subject hihsak diing ahi.
District Council om lel pen thuneihna tamsem piak hihen.
Zomi MLA te leh MDC te kha 6 beima(hunsung) in Union Territory Demand issue ah kitawp hen cih lemsak ahi.
KANGKAP ZNC PARTY GENERAL CONGRESS ELECTION RESULT:
General President : Pu T.Gougin
Vice President : Pu Lalneihthang
General Secretary : Pu S.Thangkhangin
Joint Secretary cum
Finance Secretary : Pu Ruma
Party Chief Organiser : Pu Thangkhansong
Women Wing Secretary : Pi Kimneichong
ZIV NEW APPOINTMENTS:
Pu S Lamboy
Pu Doukima
Pu Luttinpau
Pu Gouzadong
Pu Thangkhanpau
Pu Doukima
Pu Luttinpau
Pu Gouzadong
Pu Thangkhanpau
PARTY DISCIPLINARY ACTION RESOLUTIONS:
Kangkap PGC thupukna January 23, 1985 – Party thumanna diing a Pu Ginhauthang, Thanlon BLC Chairman in palaite’ sik a a puaklut Pu Tualsiam Valte, Thanlon BLC, in seconded abawl, lung kilualtak in puksak ahi.
Anuai a Zomi Innpi Vaisaipawl (ZIP) memberte, Party thupukna Dated 19-12-1984, 24-12-1984 te a kibawl, kalh a mipi khem leh thuzuau ching, party a pan nohkhiak hihen cih lem a kisa hi. Amaute –
Mr.L.Ginvum Mr.N.Thangkhum
Mr.Donkhopau Mr.Thianzakham
Mr. Dongzachin Mr.Hauzathang
Mr. Khamkhogin Thangjom, Commander ZRV
Atung a ZIV member nohkhiak(expelled) a omte’n ngaihdamna a ngetnop ualeh gelhthawh a pelut diing ua, ngaihdam diing leh ngaihdam louh diing pen ZNC party PGC ah piaklut ahi diing. PGC thupukna thutawp(final) ahi diing chih lemsak ahi.
MOTION OF CONFIDENCE (MUANHUAI HUNTAWK SAKNA THUPUAKLUT):
Party President Pu T.Gougin in motion of Confidence, PGC ah polut a, anuai a ZIV memberte muanhuai uh ahihman in kum thum dang party hon potou uhen chih PGC palaite’n lungkilualtak in pompih uhi. Amaute –
Pu T.Gougin : Party General President(PGP)
Pu S.Thangkhangin : Party General Secretary(PGS)
Pu Lalneihthang : Party Chief Organiser (PCO)
Pu Nehkhojang : Party Joint Secretary (PJS)
Pu Gengoukhup Mate : Party Joint Secretary (PJS)
Pu Ruma : Party Treasurer (PT)
Party Chief Organiser : Pu Thangkhansong
Women Wing Secretary : Pi Kimneichong
Mr. Gouzadong : ZIV member
Mr. Thangkhanpau : ZIV member
Miss Kimneichong : Secretary Women Wing(SWW)
Mr. Liankhanmang Hatzaw: Secretart ZRV
Advisers:
Pu Laldena
Pu Liankhokam Guite
Pu Holkholun Lhungdim
Pu Liankhokam Guite
Pu Holkholun Lhungdim
Chiamteh in: PGC thupukna dungzui in ZNC unit Office Sign-board tak chiat diing.
‘ZNC DAMSAWT HEN:
6 Points demand leh ZOGAM U.T lohching hen, ZNC adam leh koima shilou diing, ZNC a shi le koima dam lou diing’
Sd/- sd/-
Gougin Thangkhangin Ngaihte
Party General President, ZNC Party General Secretary, ZNC
Copy to –
Prime Minister – for information and necessary action.
Governor of Manipur – for information and necessary action
Chief Minister – for information and necessary action
Opposition Leaders – for information and necessary action
National Parties Leaders – for information and necessary action
All MLA Manipur – for information and necessary action
All MDC Hill Districts – for information and necessary action
All Chairman, Village Authority – – for information and necessary action
All concern – for information and necessary action
Governor of Manipur – for information and necessary action
Chief Minister – for information and necessary action
Opposition Leaders – for information and necessary action
National Parties Leaders – for information and necessary action
All MLA Manipur – for information and necessary action
All MDC Hill Districts – for information and necessary action
All Chairman, Village Authority – – for information and necessary action
All concern – for information and necessary action
PS: ZOGAM MIPI KA GENTHEIHNA UH THEISIAM UN
ZNC IN NANG’ NNA A SEM ZEL HI.
NA NUTAK AHI CHIH THEI INLA, PAWNG DEMSIAT NAWN KE’N
NA PIANNA ZOGAM CHILCHIL LEH NEKNEK THUAH NAWN KE’NLA
A POIMOH LEH NA HINNA ZONG PIA DIING IN MANSA IN OM IN/UN
Zogam a dia na seppih uh,
(S.THANGKHANGIN NGAIHTE)
Party General Secretary
Zomi National Congress Party, India
25/1/85[5]
The Zomi National Congress (ZNC) in Burma was registered as a political party 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.
The Zomi National Congress (ZNC), a political party asked in May 2012 to change its name by Burma’s Union Election Commission, has been granted permission to register as ‘Zomi Congress for Democracy’.
Despite officially contesting and winning two seats from Tedim (Pu Chin Sian Thang) and Tonzang (Pu Thang Lian Pau) constituencies from Chin State during the 1990 Elections, ZNC was denied its recent application to register as a political party on the ground that the term ‘Zomi’ is not included in the 130-plus ‘national races’ identified by the government.
However, 15-member ZCD would stand as a new political party upon completion of its registration process after dropping the term ‘national’ from its previous party’s name, ZNC, which boycotted alongside the National League for Democracy (NLD) the 2010 general elections in Burma.
In the general election held on 8th November 2015 in Myanmar, one of the oldest elected member was Pu Chin Sian Thang of the Zomi Congress for Democracy (ZCD) party. At 77-years-old Pu Chin Sian Thang is a well-known ethnic politician from the Zomi ethnic group who was also elected in the 1990 elections. Six members of ZCD party who got elected in the 2015 Myanmar General election were –
Upper House Parliament
Pu Gin Kam Lian – Tedim (MP, Nipidaw)
2. Pi Cing Ngaih Mang – Tonzang (MP, Nipidaw)
2. Pi Cing Ngaih Mang – Tonzang (MP, Nipidaw)
Lower House Parliament
Pu Chin Sian Thang – Tedim (MP, Nipidaw)
2. Pu Kham Khan Thang – Tonzang (MP, Nipidaw)
2. Pu Kham Khan Thang – Tonzang (MP, Nipidaw)
State Parliament
Pu Thang Deih Khup – Tedim (MP, Hakha)
2. Pu Pau Lun Min Thang – Tonzang (MP, Hakha)
2. Pu Pau Lun Min Thang – Tonzang (MP, Hakha)
Pu Chin Sian Thang
____________
References :
IMPACT OF THE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT IN MANIPUR by Jeyaseelan, 1996. Scholar Publishing House (P) Ltd. 85,, Model Basti, New Delhi -110 005. p197-p200.
Zawlpi : Kangkap Gospel Centenary Souvenir (1912-2012). Digi Info-Tech, Tedim Road, New Lamka. p105-p111.
Zawlpi : Kangkap Gospel Centenary Souvenir (1912-2012). Digi Info-Tech, Tedim Road, New Lamka. p105-p111.
[1] IMPACT OF THE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT IN MANIPUR by Jeyaseelan, 1996. Scholar Publishing House (P) Ltd. 85, Model Basti, New Delhi -110 005. p197. 1996
[2][2] IMPACT OF THE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT IN MANIPUR by Jeyaseelan, 1996. .Scholar Publishing House (P) Ltd. 85, Model Basti, New Delhi -110 005. p197.
[3] IMPACT OF THE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT IN MANIPUR by Jeyaseelan, 1996. .Scholar Publishing House (P) Ltd. 85, Model Basti, New Delhi -110 005. p186
[4] Transcript – Zawlpi : Kangkap Gospel Centenary Souvenir (1912-2012) ). Digi Info-Tech, Tedim Road, New Lamka.. p105-p111.
