Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, during his official tour of the United States, attended a Town Hall meeting organised by the Chin community in Indiana. In his speech, the Chief Minister emphasised that the primary purpose of his visit was to promote unity among the Zo people, urging them to come together despite being divided by borders.
“We are brethren who cannot be separated,” he said, expressing hope that, with divine help, the Zo people would one day be united under one administration. He stressed that while political borders exist, ethnicity transcends them, and the Zo people will not accept being arbitrarily divided into three countries.
Lalduhoma, who had previously served as the chief guest at the Mizo Day event and held talks with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency on potential projects for Mizoram, spoke about the growing Zo community in the U.S. He noted that Indianapolis alone is home to 30,000 Zo individuals, highlighting their successes in various fields. He also pointed out that many have acquired voting rights in the U.S., underscoring the significant influence they could wield in American politics if they remain united.
The Chief Minister also addressed the issue of religious divisions, warning that they have historically led to conflict, even in the U.S., where numerous denominations exist. He cited the example of Maryland, which is home to over 20 denominations, and expressed concern that such divisions might affect the Zo community as well. Lalduhoma urged churches in the U.S. to form an association that could foster unity, particularly in matters such as marriage, which is often divided along denominational lines.
He highlighted the Ecumenical Movement in Mizoram, announcing that eight denominations have come together to form the Council of Churches. The Council will be officially inaugurated on October 27, 2024, at Mission Veng Presbyterian Church. He encouraged Zo churches in the U.S. to follow a similar path toward unity.
The Mizoram CM also spoke about internal conflicts within the Zo community, expressing concern over the many Chin Hills Revolutionary Groups and the violence between brothers. He called for an end to these conflicts and urged for unity among the Zo people in Myanmar and India. Referring to the ongoing situation in Manipur, he stressed that now is the time for all Zo groups to unite.
The Chief Minister praised the efforts of the Network for Unity Association, a coalition of 13 organizations formed on June 23, 2023, for their continued support of refugees. He also thanked the Indian government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, for their assistance in supporting refugees in Mizoram.
Reflecting on the work of the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO), Lalduhoma mentioned the formation of the Chin Unity Forum on July 28, 2018, in Tahan. He recounted how the Chin communities gathered to present their shared goals of unity and expressed hope that this forum will continue to grow.
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