W. Shapwon,
Eastern Naga leader
Recently many Eastern Naga organizations strongly opposed and censured against the statement of U Win Myint, Deputy Immigration Minister of Myanmar; saying, Nagas are not Chins, because he stated in a Parliament Assembly on 27th February 2013 that Nagas are included as a sub-tribe of Chin Community. He might have knowingly or unknowingly stated as such I have nothing to do with his statement, but the truth I have to say is, the Nagas are not Chins and even they are not citizen of Myanmar (Burma), because Nagas had never conceded to be as citizens of Myanmar.
The Chins had signed Panglong Agreement on February 12, 1947 with Burma leader Gen. Aung San to be part of Myanmar Union, and hence Chins became citizens of Myanmar. But Nagas at no point of time did commit politically to be part of Myanmar Union in our history. Also the Nagas had never recognized the illegitimate and cursory boundary drawn by the British Colonial regime in the heart of Naga country in 1914. The presence of Myanmar Tatmadaw (Army) in Naga Hills is therefore only a forced occupation and through forceful occupation they cannot make Nagas as citizens of Myanmar.
By including the Nagas in Chin tribe, is he (U Win Myint) going to claim the whole Nagas (more than four million) including who are presently under forced occupation of India are citizens of Myanmar or Chins? Or is he attempting to create enmity between Nagas and Chins?
