What darkness awaits for the Chakmas in Mizoram?

By Suman Chakma

  There is a saying, "Your Past Leads To Your Present, Your Present Leads To Your Future" which holds true and gives all the unforeseen answers for the current situation of Chakmas in Mizoram. The Chakmas have been facing discrimination since from time immemorial and are facing even more now. So, according to the author, the Chakmas will be facing extreme and acute situation in close future due to rapid advent of racial Mizo's atrocities and various nefarious schemes (by the Mizoram government). 

OK! Let me erased all, whichever and whatever happened before from the creation of self-rule for the Chakmas in the form of Chakma Autonomous District Council constituted on 29th April in 1972 under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India within Mizoram state, which really hurt the Mizo community, for they wanted to make Mizoram as "Mizo Rome' till a moment before 'MZP Chawlbuk' issue at Borapansury were to begin, which was otherwise silent and remain within state boundary even though sometimes MCDF crosses that boundary so as to highlight the serious issues Chakmas are facing in Mizoram.

But, then this silence and peaceful process turn on to show-off from both the sides, which further ignites them as a challenge for both the communities.

How the Chakmas are always loosers and Mizos are winners?

Both the communities uses madia as their weapons, who releases statements blaming one against the other. A few of them are given below, which is attached as such published by the various sources.

Media coverage | on 3 June: Mizo Zirlai Pawl is illegal land grabber, say Chakmas

In Brief: 

On 23rd Aug 2013: MZP with large number of cadres visited Borapansury. One among many visits. MZP cadres forced local residents to remain locked inside their homes.

Physically assaulted a person and made him stand in Jesus Crucifix position under the hot sun for hours. The MZP not only humiliated the local Chakmas but also insulted Jesus Christ by forcefully repeating his crucified post.

11^th March 2014: All India radio Aizawl announced about MZP's impending visit.

13^th March 2014: Local residents submitted petition to the DC- Lawngtlai District for security citing reasons why they fear MZP's move and hence oppose.

2nd May 2014: MZP with 35 cadres visited the Borapansury. Put up illegal signboards at the encroached land (2500+ sqm) site. MZP cadres defecated in the open in spite of available toilets, to humiliate the local residents. Demanded forced labour whenever they come to construct MZP Chawlbuk at the encroached site. Ordered local people and VCPs to look after the signboards. Ate eatables from many shops without any payment. Demanded dog meat to be served when they come to visit next.

21st May 2014: Joint petition to CEM-CADC, governor, Home Minister, DC-Lawngtlai etc. for justice.

22nd May 2014: CEM of CADC clarified with a letter that No land has been allotted to MZP and shall not be allotted.

23rd May 2014: CEM-CADC wrote to DC-Lawngtlai to remove the illegal encroachment at Borapansury.

30^th May 2014: Seeing no response from the State authority and left with no option the local people with the help of JAC (combining all NGOs, all political parties and Community elders) submitted a final appeal to the authority through the CEM-CADC to remove the encroachment within 2nd June 2014, else public decided to peacefully boycott the upcoming MDC bye-election at Borapansury-II on 4th June 2014 to make their issue heard by the State Govt.

31st May 2014: Instead of Govt authority to discuss the matter with local residents MZP cadres lead by its president Lalmachhuana arrived at Borapansury. Sought to meet the Joint Action Committee leaders, verbally threatened of bloodshed if they are not allowed to do whatever they like at the encroached land site, and accused every Chakma of being a foreigner. MZP cadres put up another sign board.

1st June 2014: MZP team visited Borapansury again and left Borapansury only after the MDC by-poll was boycotted peacefully sans any retaliation by the local Chakmas which was after warning, if the MZP do not remove their Chawlbuk from Borapansury. They are silent does not mean that they can't, but they want Mizoram to be peaceful, which is good for one and all of the Mizoramans.

All the above shenanigans operated by the MZPs at Borapansury led by its President, Lalmachhuana is a far wrong direction for the entire peoples of Mizoram towards peace and prosperity. In my opinion Lalmachhuana is not even qualified for the membership of MZP if the Organization truly aims that they are the strongest and more active organization towards safe guarding and making MIzoram a Peace, Prosperous and a Corrupt-free state. Read full article in Meri News and here.

However, here also the Chakmas remain as the loosers and Mizos as winners like other time.  MZP cadres constructed their Chawlbuk successfully on 25 June with the help of Mizoram state Polices.

Read related news: Mizo govt beefs up security in Chakma area. 

Media coverage | on 4 June: The Chakma community members did not cast a single vote during the bye-election to the member of the Chakma Autonomous District Council in the Boranpansury-II seat today after a boycott call by the NGOs and political parties. No ballot was cast in any of the three polling stations. The NGOs including the Young Chakma Association (YCA) and political parties boycotted the bypoll after the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or the Mizo Students Federation displayed a signboard in Borapansury-I village where the student body has proposed to construct 'Zofate Chawlbuk' or the 'Mizos Inn'. The Chakma community members protested the allotment of government land to the MZP inside the area of the CADC.

MZP signboard at Borapansury

MZP cadres on full swing 

Mizoram Police supporting MZP

Reports from the election authorities at Borapansury-II said that while all the official polling parties were in the polling stations, not a single election agent or voter turned up to exercise franchise.The bypoll in the Borapansury-II seat of the CADC was necessitated after the seat was vacated by the former Chief Executive Member of the CADC Dr B D Chakma who was elected to the Mizoram legislature in the 2013 state assembly polls and later became a minister of state. The same report also published in other popular dailies like The Hindu, The Shillong Times, Business Standard, New Karala and others. 

Constructed MZP Chawlbuk at Borapansury

Media coverage | on 17 June: The Chakmas have refused the allegation on abnormal growth of population alleged by the Mizos, which was published in several dailies. Some of them are Mizo News (Mizoram government ignoring Chakmas' plight), Seven Sisters Project (Mizoram: Chakmas refute allegation of unaccounted growth in the community), Kanga Online (Mizoram government ignoring Chakmas' plight - Mizo News), The Telegraph and The Mizoram Post (MCDF concerns with the apathy of the Mizoram govt and vengeance politics).

Media coverage | on 20 June: Reacting to the statement released by the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) on June 17 and published by several websites and newspapers which that blamed ZNP for intentionally misrepresenting facts about Chakma population and that accused Mizo Zirlai Pawl of illegally grabbing land at Boranpansury in Chakma Council area for the construction of Zofate Chawlhbuk, Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) said there is no question of illegal land grabbing by the student organisation. 

ZNP said Chakma bodies were misinterpretation Mizo sentiments on national paper and social media. The party alleged that Chakmas for several times had maliciously distorted the image of the Mizos by misrepresenting and misinterpreting the latter through social media in and outside Mizoram.

ZNP further warned Chakma boides that in case of any outbreak of violence and untoward incident over the construction of Zofate Chawlhbuk at Borapansury, it will be their sole responsibility. Mizo News (http://www.mizonews.net/mizoramnews/znp-slams-chakma-mizoram-chakma-development-forum/) on June 20.

Media coverage | on 26 and 27 July: All India Chakma Convention held in Silchar.

Media coverage | on 20 August: Mizo students want exclusion of Chakma, 3 others communities from Category-I of STEE.

The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) has reiterated its demand for excluding Chakmas and three other communities from Category-I of State Technical Entrance Examination 2014.

MZP in its press release stated that they have urged the authority to withdraw within this month (August 2014) the inclusion of Chakma and three other communities in the Category-I of the State Technical Entrance Examination 2014.

MZP vows to take further action if their demand is not fulfilled.

Media coverage | on 30 August: ZNP Vice President K. Liantlinga while attacking at the ruling Congress said that the government are trying to protect the bangladeshi foreigners mentioning the Chakmas only for the purpose of vote bank politics. He even called the Chakmas low culture and marginalised section of the society, which was appered in The Mizoram Post (Want of Chakma votes necessitate Chakma protection: K. Liantlinga).

From the above few words commented by Liantlinga on the Chakmas, one can see, the Chakmas is surely to suffer even more if the minority party like ZNP and others were to come in power by any how, even though the Chakmas are suffering now.

Media coverage | on 1 September: The Chakmas (Chakma National Council of India (CNCI)) in its release declared that the Chakmas in Mizoram are the indigenous residents of western part of the

L.K. Advani's statements on Chakmas

state, which also published in several dailies like        The Sangai Express ("Chakmas are indigenous residents of the western part of Mizoram": CNCI), Manipur News (Chakmas are indigenous residents of the western part of Mizoram CNCI), The TNT Magazine ("Chakmas are indigenous residents of the western part of Mizoram": CNCI), E-Pao ("Chakmas are indigenous residents of the western part of Mizoram": CNCI), Meri News (Chakma National Council of India-Mizoram asserts its Indigenous identity in Mizoram), Seven Sisters Project (Chakmas in Mizoram Reassert Their Indigenous Identity), The Sentinel (CNCI convention asserts preserving the identity and culture of Chakmas), Mizo News (Chakmas are indigenous residents of Mizoram: CNCI).

Media coverage | on 2 September: In response to the previous release by the Chakmas, Higher & Technical Minister R. Romsaid that the Chakmas are not the indigenous residents of Mizoram which was published in popular Mizo daily Vanglaini (H&TE Minister leh MZP-te'n STEE chungchang an sawiho) and (Chakma-te Mizoram mi dik takah an inngai). In this way either the Mizo NGOs or the government of Mizoram always allege the Chakmas, which is why the Chakmas always remain as the failure as every machineries of the government of Mizoram target the Chakmas.

On 6 September: Chakma Delegation Team led by BJP MP Shri Tarun Vijay submitted a memorandum to Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of state for Home against the proposed Head-counting census of the Chakmas in Mizoram. The same is available at Tarun Vijay, MP blog (Breaking News-Mizo Buddhists Chakmas meet Minister of State for Home ).

Media coverage | on 8 September: "Chakma census may ignite separatism," says Mizoram MLA T.T.Zothansanga, which also appeared in several dailies like Mizo News, The Mizoram Post (Chakma census may induce separatism: Parl Secy T.T. Zothansanga), The TNT Magazine and Vanglaini (Smart card driving licence siamna hawng John-a'n Chakma chhiarpui neih ṭha lo a ti).

Mizoram government is not in favour of conducting census on Chakma population in Mizoram. T.T. Zothansanga, Parliamentary Secretary yesterday said. 

"It is important to be careful while taking steps to safeguard the land and the nation (of the Mizos). Therefore, the plan to conduct census of Chakma population in Mizoram could rather be creating a step for them to pursue separatism". 

He was addressing the inauguration of SMART CARD based DL & RC in Kolasib.

As reported earlier, the Mizoram government has last month asked Central Mizo Association (CYMA) to put on halt their plan to conduct Chakma census, State Home Minister has told the YMA leaders that it acknowledge that their plan to conduct Chakma Census arises out of their love of the Mizo nation and to safeguard the same.

While lauding YMA for its genuine love for the "Mizo nation", he also told YMA leaders that it is necessary to take caution that conducting census out of sheer nationalism could result in disunity. The Home Minister further has stated it would be against the Constitution to conduct a census for one particular community within Mizoram, and therefore, asked YMA not to go ahead with their plan as of now.     

The Home Minister called on YMA leaders to cooperate with the government in properly maintaining village register which is meant for keeping record of genuine settlers of each village. He further suggested that a systematic plan be made such that this village register is tabled in the Legislative Session, adding, the same would be a good means of preventing illegal entry of outsiders. Concerned over an "abnormal increase" of Chakma population in southern Mizoram, the state's largest organisation Young Mizo Association has decided to conduct a census on Chakma population in the state to check Chakma infiltration.

Chakma issue topped the agenda of the YMA central executive committee meeting in Aizawl early last month. The meeting decided to collect Rs 5 each from all the YMA member in Mizoram to conduct the gigantic task.

This donation box was placed by MZP
in every outlet in Aizawl to construct
"Chawlbuk" at Borapansury.

"The census on Chakmas will be conducted soon in the Chakma Autonomous District Council areas in southern Mizoram and other parts of the state," said Lalbiakzuala, President of YMA central committee. "It (census) is necessary to study the rapid growth rate of Chakma population and further check Chakma influx from the neighbouring Bangladesh," he added.

The YMA meeting also has decided to put more pressure on its demand for removal of Mizoram minister of state Dr B D Chakma from the Cabinet. The YMA had earlier written to Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla to remove Chakma from his Cabinet for his (Chakma) for his participation in a poll boycott against allocation of land in Chakma autonomous District Council for construction of a Mizo guesthouse by Mizo students body's Mizo Zirlai Pawl.

Protesting the allocation of land to the MZP in Borapansury under CADC, various Chakma organisation had boycotted by-election to Borapansury-II seat on June 4 last, B D Chakma allegedly led the protest.

Later, the Chakma minister allegedly offended the YMA by participating at a Chakma national convention in Silchar recently where it was resolved that Chakma-inhabited areas in Mizoram be put under the Chakma Autonomous District Council.

Besides the YMA, Mizoram's apex students' militant body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) has raise the issue of Chakma "infiltration." The MZP alleged that Chakma population in southern Mizoram has abnormally increased during the last few years.

Conclusion: Though the CYMA put an halt in conducting census on Chakma population in Mizoram for as of now. But, it is the right time for the Chakmas to take necessary steps and to prove that the Chakmas are the indigenous residents of the western part of Mizoram, who knows what darkness awaits in the future.

Related Read: 

1. Mizoram's Higher and Technical's new rule, declared Chakma as 2nd class citizen 
2. Chakma civil bodies and political parties condemn Mizoram govt action 
3. Chakmas in Mizoram Protest Against Discriminatory Rules
4. Chakmas protest against ‘discriminatory’ rules
5. Mizoram: Chakmas Demonstrate Protest against Discriminatory Rules
6. http://photos.merinews.com/newPhotoLanding.jsp?imageID=30888

If Mizoram is a peaceful state: Chakma community retains all peace in Mizoram

 By Suman Chakma

    It is not in my DNA to be a communal bigot while articulating the emotions on the frequent clash between the Chakmas and the Mizos in Mizoram, which erupts mostly either politically, socially, ethnically or religiously. I truly feel very bad for that. The Chakmas of Mizoram should accept that the Mizos are their elder brothers and the Mizos should accept the Chakmas as their younger brothers or vice versa, as both of them have the same onus in order to making Mizoram, a Peaceful and a Prosperous state. They should live like the different sides of the same coin. I love Mizoram and all other peoples living in it as much as I do my own for their hospitality, compassion and helping hands, mostly when I happen to heard a visitor say those former three words about the peoples of Mizoram. Mizoram is my home land.

     It is like a tradition to pass hate-speech, pseudo propagandas among the commoners in Mizoram down to generations. The prime reason for the clash between the Chakmas and the Mizos is due to deep misunderstanding since a very long time. Mizo peoples always blame the Chakmas that they did not contribute and shed a single drop of blood while fighting for the statehood of Mizoram, which of their belief is partially wrong. Many Chakma ancestors did it. But in my deep heart I feel the same situations which my fellow Chakma brethren felt during that time. They were helpless. Most of the Chakmas in Mizoram were and are living geographically along the national and international border lines where Indian government has also camped several groups of military cadres like Border Security Force (BSF) and others etc. along the Chakma villages. So, they had to obey them and work for them mostly as porters during that time to earn their square meals. Moreover, they were uneducated, unemployed and also due to lack of communication among the then Lushais (now Mizos) and the Chakmas results the opposite feelings. They preferred to go to Silchar in Cachar district (Assam) for studying then to cross to the other side of Tuichawng (Toizong in Chakma) river to Chawngte-P in Lai Council areas which is now one of the three Chawngtes, the others are Chawngte-C for the Chakmas now (aka Kamalanagar, the heart of Chakma Council) and Chawngte-L, and to Tlabung as they were feared and haunted by the scary of the then militant group, the Mizo National Front (MNF). As there were only two places to top education i.e. Matriculation that time in south-western part of  Mizoram where most of the Chakmas live. 

     One of such anti-Chakmas remarks, pseudo propagandas was first started by Pu F.Lianchhinga of Serkawn, Lunglei. In his book-'PHEICHHAMMAN CHAKMA-TE' which was published in 1992, he stated at page 45 (please read the whole book for details if available in stock). And the other reason for their insecurity in relation is due to the fact that the Chakmas are suspicious of the Christian Mizos after the killing of Chigonya Chakma, (the first Christian Chakma in the Lushai Hills) along with two of his colleagues in 1966 by the MNF at Kauduar when they went to fetch their belongings from their village, Betbonya.

     

Let me add an instance here to make the heading crystal clear which was started and given below: 

On 23rd Aug 2013: MZP with large number of cadres visited Borapansury. One among many visits. MZP cadres forced local residents to remain locked inside their homes. Physically assaulted a person and made him stand in Jesus Crucifix position under the hot sun for hours. The MZP not only humiliated the local Chakmas but also insulted Jesus Christ by forcefully repeating his crucified post.

11th March 2014: All India radio Aizawl announced about MZP’s impending visit.

13th March 2014: Local residents submitted petition to the DC – Lawngtlai District for security citing reasons why they fear MZP’s move and hence oppose.

2nd May 2014: MZP with 35 cadres visited the Borapansury. Put up illegal signboards at the encroached land (2500+ sqm) site. MZP cadres defecated in the open in spite of available toilets, to humiliate the local residents. Demanded forced labour whenever they come to construct MZP Chawlbuk at the encroached site. Ordered local people and VCPs to look after the signboards. Ate eatables from many shops without any payment. Demanded dog meat to be served when they come to visit next.

21st May 2014: Joint petition to CEM-CADC, governor, Home Minister, DC-Lawngtlai etc. for justice.

22nd May 2014: CEM of CADC clarified with a letter that No land has been allotted to MZP and shall not be allotted.

23rd May 2014: CEM-CADC wrote to DC-Lawngtlai to remove the illegal encroachment at Borapansury.

30th May 2014: Seeing no response from the State authority and left with no option the local people with the help of JAC (combining all NGOs, all political parties and Community elders) submitted a final appeal to the authority through the CEM-CADC to remove the encroachment within 2nd June 2014, else public decided to peacefully boycott the upcoming MDC bye-election at Borapansury-II on 4th June 2014 to make their issue heard by the State Govt.

31st May 2014: Instead of Govt authority to discuss the matter with local residents MZP cadres lead by its president Lalmachhuana arrived at Borapansury. Sought to meet the Joint Action Committee leaders, verbally threatened of bloodshed if they are not allowed to do whatever they like at the encroached land site, and accused every Chakma of being a foreigner. MZP cadres put up another sign board.

1st June 2014: MZP team visited Borapansury again and left Borapansury only after the MDC by-poll was boycotted peacefully sans any retaliation by the local Chakmas which was after warning, if the MZP do not remove their Chawlbuk from Borapansury. They are silent does not mean that they can't, but they want Mizoram to be peaceful, which is good for one and all of the Mizoramans. 

     All the above shenanigans operated by the MZPs at Borapansury led by its President, Lalmachhuana is a far wrong direction for the entire peoples of Mizoram towards peace and prosperity. In my opinion Lalmachhuana is not even qualified for the membership of MZP if the Organization truly aims that they are the strongest and more active organization towards safe guarding and making MIzoram a Peace, Prosperous and a Corrupt-free state.

Note: CADC: Chakma Autonomous District Council in Mizoram.
CEM: Chief Executive Member, the head of the Autonomous Council.
DC: Deputy Commissioner, the head of a particular district.
JAC: Joint Action Committe, a Chakma organization formed by all the NGOs, Political Parties, Religious Groups of CADC.
MZP: Mizo Zirlai Pawl, an apex student organization group in Mizoram.

Read this article on Meri News.

Read more: http://borapansurytimes.blogspot.in/2014/06/mizo-zirlai-pawl-mzp-militant-mizo.html

Employees in Chakma Autonomous District Council are in the state of 'limbo'- History will see the present leaders as careless and puny

By Suman Chakma

Employees living without salary in Chakma Autonomous District Council:

     Allow me to jot down here a few lines about the fact how and for what ground the employees of Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) are spending as borrowing life for the last three and more months without any salary. Probably, this prolong irregularity of salary may be one of due to the CEMship, besides many unknown others.

     Earlier, for more than two months (from ending 2013) the employees of  CADC are not getting their due salaries and were convinced that the payment shall be disbursed as liable after the Assembly election in Mizoram is expired. Meanwhile, the General elected leaders (MDCs) of CADC are still on the move to decide who shall be the next incumbent Chief Executive Member (CEM) of CADC despite the fact they know that without their settlement from the move of forming the New Executive- Body of CADC, the employees and their families and others who are relying on them as workers shall have to suffer as long as they (elected members) delay the on going move. Although, they made Dr. Buddha Dhan Chakma as new CEM of CADC on 26 April 2013, but that is also after a long period of baffling and dirty political shenanigans, who again later on elected and chosen as Minister of State in Mizoram Legislative Assembly. The sole reason for INC (Congress) triumph and victory in Mizoram though lost in many parts of the Country meanwhile, may be due to New Land Using Policy (NLUP) as election bait for Congress's BIGGEST VICTORY WEAPON as alleged by the main opposition MNF party in the state. 

Second from left is Dr, Buddha Dhan Chakma

     The Political leaders (decision maker here) of CADC never turn back and think of at least for those students who are studying outside the county and state, and pursuing their dreams. They also make them suffer as well. Perhaps, it is a curse than having a job for those who can not help their families at the time of most they need. Literally, money is their only real parents especially for those students studying outside the state. As a result, the present leaders of CADC not only ill-affected their capacities to lead the Chakmas of Mizoram but also failed to show us as responsible figures in our society. They all aware of it that due to their carelessness most of the peoples of CADC are suffering unnecessarily. This truly brand the present political leaders of CADC as CARELESS and WEAK. That attitude to become the CEM unconstitutionally and unconventionally !!! However, the story does not end here, rather it becomes more curious when Congress brings landslide victory in last Legislative Assembly election in Mizoram held on 25 Dec.2013, when the present CEM, Dr. B. D. Chakma was chosen as Minister of State, i/c Horticulture and Fisheries, in Mizoram state on 14 December 2013 as I said before. Now, in spite of  making rapid and tacit decision, and appointing the able person directly for the particular post (like who will be the CEM or Chairman, etc.)  by seeing their qualification, abilities and boldness in the concern field of sharing Department, but they rather started again, maligning each other and exaggerating the easily solvable issue into complicated one by repeating the same untidy and detesting things which already made unbearable tolerance to one and all in the Chakma's council. The other principal cause for late salary may be due to the non-transparency of accounts and other details accountability in many Departments and delinquency of one's duty during the last five-years tenure. And the present persons in certain Department and Post are not readily accepting their post for what they were being newly appointed, as there is every possibility of scam, if the accountability is not made transparent and crystal clear before they join their respective Post.

     At last, after so long of discussion how come Buddha Lila Chakma came out as the current Chief Executive Member (CEM) of CADC on 22 January 2014. He was not only the youngest elected Member of District Council (MDC), but also the youngest CEM of Chakma Autonomous District Council's (CADC) history.

However, the day and date for salary in CADC is uncertain till now.
        


                        "Hope Mr. Buddha Lila Chakma, CEM, CADC would be an artist to mould and turn CADC from under-developed to developed; corrupted to corrupt free and irregular to regular salary at his mighty capacity."