 DATED AIZAWL THE 30TH OCTOBER 1988
FIRST WORLD ZOMI CONVENTION
Venue : Champhai: Mizoram
MAY 19 – 21, 1988
DECLARATION“We, the people of Zo ethnic group,
Inhabitants of the highlands in
The Chin Hills and Arakans of Burma,
The Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh,
The Mizoram State and adjoining hill areas of India
Are descendants of one ancestor.
Our language, our culture and tradition,
And no, less our social and customary practices
Are clear evidences of the ethnological facts.
Further, our historical records,
And footprints both written and unwritten
In the sands of time testify
To the truth of our common ancestry.
“Much against the interest for preservation,
Consolidation and promotion of our ethnic identity,
The British colonial rulers after subjugating us
During the later part of the 19th century,
Exercised the imperialistic policy
Of ‘Divide and Rule’.
As a result, our ancestral homeland was divided,
So were members of the Zo community distributed
Like cattle sold and separated.
“Adding grave insult to injury,
The emergence of the sovereign state
Of India, Burma and Pakistan in 1940s
Had the administrative fragmentations aggravated
And gave birth to deeper agonies of separation
For the constitutional laws of respective countries
Divided Zo ethnic origin into different nationalities.
“For better part of the century,
Largely because of our limited outlook
Both in terms historical and political,
The gravity of our uncertain situation
And the danger for our ethnological demise
Received no meaningful political response.
The genocidal threat of neo-colonialism
Against our Zo ethnic survival
Still remain ever unredeemed.
“Now with political consciousness gaining momentum,
And the spirit of nationalism quickening us
Come fuller realization of our human rights
And of our political prerogatives
We cannot but feel burdened
With the paramount importance of Zo Reunification
For preservation and existence of Zo ethnic identity.
“Re-asserting, therefore, our faith and confidence
In the code of comity of Nation
For redeeming injustices done to Zo ethnic origin,
We, the delegates to the First World Zo Convention of Zo Reunification
Ethnically enshrined on this day
Twentieth Day of the Month of May
In the year of our Lord Nineteen Eighty-Eight
Upon the alter of Zo Reunification
As under:
CHARTER OF AGREEMENT I“We solemnly affirm the truth
That members of Zo ethnic origin
Now living in Burma, India and Bangladesh
Are a people of common ancestry
Speaking a common language,
Blessed with common social,
Cultural and religious background,
And destined to common political fate and destiny.
IIWe sincerely pledge and affirm
Solidarity and integration to take on
A just struggle for Zo Re-Unification
Under one Administrative umbrella
In conformity with the resolution of the Chin-Lushai Conference
Held at Ford William, Calcutta
On January 29, 1892.
IIIWe firmly hold the universal truth
That our political aspirations for Zo Reunification
Regardless of international boundary constraints
Are the inalienable rights of all Zo ethnic origin,
Further, we solemnly acknowledge the claim
For Zo Re-unification to be wholly legitimate.
IV“We firmly adopt the principle of non-violence
For attaining the Zo Re unification.
V“We sincerely appeal to the consciences
Of all heads of States and Governments
Under whom Zo Communities are citizens respectively
To recognize and acknowledge
The rightful claim for Zo Reunification.
Further, we appeal to one and all
Believing in the Universal Human Rights
To lend support to the just struggle
For Zo Reunification
At all levels and at different stages.”
ORGANISATION
In order to promote the just struggle
For Zo Re-unification – I“We solemnly affirm and resolve
That a loose political forum
Called the “ZO RE-UNIFICATION ORGANISATION” be formed.
(And is hereby formed)
Further, we resolve that
Zo re-unification Organisation (ZORO)
Be a forum covering all political parties
And Individuals – (i) Acknowledging the rightful claim
For Zo Re-unification;
(ii) Accepting the paramount importance
Of Zo Re-unification
Above and beyond party politics, and
(iii) Willing to subscribe the ideas and views
As may develop time to time
Through the forum of ZORO.
II“WE affirm and resolve that (i) ZORO as a forum shall not interfere
In any local political programmes and activities
Of any constituent political party;
(ii) No constituent political unit of ZORO
In absence of consultation with ZORO
Shall organize any local political party activities
As may adversely affect the objectives of ZORO;
(iii) Any of the political parties
Involving and participating in ZORO
Shall enjoy the privilege of exercising certain discretions
As to form frontal organizations
Within the respective party concerned
Primarily for promotion of the just struggle
For Zo Reunification, and
(iv) ZORO, as a forum, shall normally finalise
Important policy decisions
In matters related directly or indirectly
To the just struggle for Zo Re-unification.
“WE, the Undersigned,
For and on behalf of Zo people,
Living and children yet to be born,
Look to God in prayer,
And seal this document with our signatures.
LONG LIVE ZO RE-UNIFICATION.”
SIGNED BY 40 DELEGATES REPRESENTING DIFFERENT ORGANISATIONS. AND NINETY EIGHT OTHERS. (Source: True Copy)
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