The Power of Self-Identification
Throughout history, oppressive regimes have systematically imposed identities on indigenous peoples as a means of control. The Burmese military dictatorship has followed this same colonial strategy by enforcing the name Chin on the Zomi people, erasing their true identity and reducing them to an externally imposed classification.
This act of mental colonization is not just a historical injustice; it is an ongoing violation of human rights, self-determination, and democracy. When an ethnic group is forced to accept a name they did not choose, they are denied the fundamental right to self-identification, a core principle enshrined in international human rights law.
If you call yourself Chin simply because others do, you have fallen into the trap of mental enslavement. There is a profound logical, political, and human rights flaw in accepting and identifying yourself based on how others define and perceive you. To continue fighting for democracy and freedom, we must also reject the psychological and cultural chains imposed upon us.
The Right to Self-Identification: A Fundamental Human Right
The ability to define one’s own identity is a fundamental human right, protected under international law.
- Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to a nationality and identity of their choosing.
- Article 3 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms that indigenous groups have the inherent right to self-identify according to their historical and cultural traditions.
When an ethnic minority is forced to accept an identity that was externally imposed, it is a direct violation of these principles. The Burmese regime, much like colonial rulers before them, has used ethnic classification as a political tool—not for representation, but for control.
The name Chin was not chosen by the Zomi people; it was imposed by colonial administrators and later reinforced by the Burmese state. Accepting this imposed name is not merely a matter of semantics—it is accepting the mental and political control of an oppressive regime.
Imposed Identity as a Tool of Oppression
History has shown that renaming and reclassifying ethnic groups is a well-documented strategy of oppression. From European colonial rulers in Africa to the forced assimilation of indigenous populations in North America, identity imposition has always served as a method to erase cultural distinctiveness and enforce submission.
In the case of the Zomi people, the British colonial rulers first used the name Chin as a broad administrative category, disregarding the cultural, linguistic, and historical differences among Zomi communities. The Burmese dictatorship later institutionalized this imposed identity to further its nationalist, centralist agenda, deliberately diminishing the Zomi identity in favor of a state-defined classification.
This practice is not unique to Burma—it is a tactic used by authoritarian regimes worldwide.
- The Rohingya people have been denied the right to self-identify by the Burmese government, instead being labeled as “Bengalis” to justify their persecution.
- The Chinese government has similarly suppressed the identities of Uyghurs and Tibetans, imposing state-approved classifications to control their movements, rights, and cultural expressions.
The Burmese junta’s approach to ethnic minorities follows the same oppressive pattern. By accepting the name Chin, the Zomi people are legitimizing the dictatorship’s historical attempt to erase their true identity.
The Democratic Right to Define Ourselves
A key pillar of democracy is the right to self-determination, which includes defining one’s ethnic, cultural, and national identity without interference from the state.
- In democratic nations, ethnic or religious identity is not displayed on official documents such as passports, driver’s licenses, or ID cards because such classifications have historically led to discrimination, exclusion, and state-sponsored persecution.
- True democracy recognizes and respects diversity, allowing individuals and ethnic groups to self-identify freely.
Yet, in Burma, the military regime has long used ethnic categorization as a tool for oppression, reinforcing divisions and denying indigenous rights. This is why we have been fighting for a federal democratic system where ethnic groups have full autonomy over their identities, governance, and representation.
If we are to achieve genuine democracy, we must first reject the very foundations of oppression that have been imposed upon us—including the forced identity that was never ours to begin with.
Rejecting the Burmese Junta’s Mental Dictatorship
The fight against Burmese military rule is not just about political resistance; it is also about liberating ourselves from the mental and psychological structures of dictatorship. If we continue to accept the names and classifications imposed by our oppressors, then we are complicit in reinforcing the very system we seek to dismantle.
- Accepting an imposed identity means accepting the legitimacy of an authoritarian regime.
- The first step toward true liberation is rejecting the psychological and cultural control imposed upon us.
- By continuing to use the name “Chin,” we uphold a colonial and dictatorial framework that was never meant to represent us.
This message is especially crucial for those in exile or in third countries. The fight for democracy does not end with physical relocation; it requires mental liberation and a conscious rejection of the narratives imposed by the dictatorship.
Embracing Zomi: A Name of Freedom and Resistance
Choosing to identify as Zomi is not just an act of cultural pride—it is an act of defiance against oppression.
- Zomi is our birthright. It originates from our history, language, and ancestors—not from colonial rulers or military dictators.
- Zomi is a declaration of freedom. By reclaiming our rightful identity, we break free from the chains of state-imposed classification.
- Zomi is a rejection of dictatorship. By refusing to accept an identity forced upon us, we refuse to be controlled by the institutions that have oppressed us.
Furthermore, as Christians, we recognize that our identity is ultimately determined by God, not by earthly rulers. You are who God says you are—not who the world tries to label you as.
In human rights principle, your identity is who you say you are but, in Christianity you are who God says you are.
We are Zomi by birth and Christian by choice through faith in Christ. Never allow anyone else to define you to fix their narrative!
A Call to Action
For decades, we have fought for democracy and self-determination through multiple revolutionary movements:
- The 1988 Pro-Democracy Uprising
- The 1990s Struggle for Federalism
- The 2007 Saffron Revolution
- The 2021 Spring Revolution
Each of these struggles has been about rejecting oppression and reclaiming our rights. The fight for identity is just as critical as political freedom.
If you truly want to see real change, you must:
- Reject the name that was imposed upon you by colonialists and dictators.
- Refuse to let your oppressors define you.
- Reclaim your rightful identity as Zomi.
- Educate those around you about the truth of our history.
- Stand firm in your belief that self-identification is a fundamental human right.
The fight for democracy begins in the mind. Break free from the chains of mental dictatorship. Reclaim your identity. Embrace Zomi.