KUKI WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION (KWHRO)
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Following the democracy uprising of 08.08.88, the Burmese military seized back power in a coup d’état on 18th September, 1988, cracking down even further on all civil liberties. Thus followed further years of inhuman suffering for common people in Burma. Student democracy activists and the common people who supported them were severely dealt with and many of them were either killed, jailed, tortured or raped.
This brutality of the junta upon civilians has forced many of them to take refugee in neighboring countries such as Thailand, India and Bangladesh where they are carrying out activities aimed at ending military rule and restoring democracy in the country.
One of the peoples severely affected by military rule are the Kukis, who inhabit the Indo-Burma border area, along the Upper Chindwin, in Sagaing division. Having no state of their own and living under direct central rule, they have been subject to incessant torture, and rampant violation of their basic human rights on the pretext of sympathizing with democracy activists or insurgents. Over and above this, they have been charged of being foreigners and their citizenship put into question.
Kuki civilians have thus suffered intolerable harassment under the military junta. Their men have been forcibly conscripted, and their women sexually abused by the military. These abuses have forced many Kukis to take refuge in India, where they have gained active support for the cause of democracy. Side by side with the democracy movement, the various ethnic groups in Burma are striving to come to mutual understanding to ensure equal rights between them once democracy is restored.
Realizing the need for an organized effort towards these goals, and to promote awareness and activism among Kuki women, a meeting of Kuki women leaders was held first at Moreh and later at Imphal to establish a Forum. Thus was born the Kuki Women's Human Rights Organization (KWHRO) on the 1st of January, 2000.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
1. To bring to the world's attention the rampant violation of the basic human rights of the Kukis of Burma by the military junta and to seek an end to it.
2. To work towards the dissolution of the military regime and the restoration of democracy in Burma.
3. To enhance the participation of women in all areas of socio-political activity and to promote human rights awareness among the masses.
ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION
During 2001-2002, KWHRO organized a basic and advanced vocational tailoring training course at Moreh town on the Indian side of the Indo-Burma border.
KWHRO has taken part in various political activities with other pro-democratic organizations to restore human rights and democracy in Burma, especially in Manipur and New Delhi.
Since its inception, KWHRO has been working to promote social, educational and health rights of women, and gender equality among Kuki society and other communities both inside and outside Burma.
The KWHRO has organized the Kukis in Burma to unite and fight the military government to establish democracy in Burma.
The organization has been working for not only women but also for the entire Kuki community to get equal rights and status within a future federal democracy in Burma.
STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANISAION
KWHRO have their own organizational structure in which the central committee has the highest authority and power and the president is the head of the entire organization.
A general conference and election is held every two years. All the central committee members and the president are elected democratically, freely and fairly during the "conference/election".
OFFICES
The headquarter of the KWHRO (B) is at Moreh Town in the Indian side of the Indo-Burma border. And branch office in New Delhi.
OUR BELIEF
The Kuki Women's Human Rights Organization (KWHRO) believes that the role of Kuki women should be improved within Kuki society as stated under: "History and tradition might have denied us (women) any positive role in society and women might have been confined within the four walls of the kitchen, but with the changing times and the progress of civilization, the time has come where women have to play an important role in society and politics that is equal to that played by men. In fact there are areas where women even excel men.
Therefore, KWHRO (B) appeal to all Kuki women to shake off their shackles and emerge out of the kitchen to play an active and positive role in shaping the future of the Kuki nation. It is time we realize that unless we go forth and play the roles expected of us during the times we are in, the struggle of the Kuki nation will be that much weaker.
