Zo Reunification Organization

Not to be confused with Zomi Re-unification Organisation.

The Zo Reunification Organization (ZORO) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1988 in Champhai, Mizoram, India.^[1][2] It advocates for the cultural, social, and political unification of the Zo people, whose ethnic groups are dispersed across Northeast India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.^[3][4] The Zo people include various tribes belonging to the Mizos, Chins, Kukis, and Zomis, otherwise known as Chikkim, sharing a common ancestral and cultural heritage but were divided by federal administrations.^[5][6][7]

Zo Reunification Organization

Abbreviation	ZORO
Formation	20 May 1988; 37 years ago (1988-05-20)
Founded at	Champhai, Mizoram, India
Type	Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
Purpose	Advocacy for Zo ethnic group unification
Headquarters	Aizawl, Mizoram, India
Region served	India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh
Methods	Advocacy, cultural preservation, policy representation
Official language	English, Mizo, and other Zo languages

ZORO's objectives include promoting Zo cultural preservation, fostering cross-border solidarity, and representing the Zo people in national and international forums. It also works on socio-economic development and educational initiatives within Zo communities.^[8][7]

Inception

In 1986, the Mizoram Peace Accord was signed and Mizoram attained statehood. The Mizo National Front (MNF), which had previously fought Mizo insurgency, became a political party and won the 1987 election. Thus Mizoram became the first democratic state of the Zo people. T. Gougin, the leader of Manipur's Zomi National Congress (ZNC), had met the MNF leader Laldenga earlier, but the two could not agree on a common name, arguing for "Zomi" and "Mizo" respectively.^{[9] [a]}

In May 1988, a World Zomi Convention was held in Champhai, Mizoram, jointly organised by ZNC and Mizoram People's Conference (MPC), which was now out of power.^[10] Some 20,000 people are said to have attended the conference, mostly from Mizoram and Manipur,^[9] but also a few delegates from other regions such as Assam, Myanmar's Chin State and Chittagong Hills in Bangladesh.^[11] The convention adopted "Zo" as the indigenous name of the entire Kuki-Chin community. The delegates argued that "mi" ("people") is not required in a community name.^[11]

The Convention declared the unification of all the Zo people fragmented across nations as one of its goals, and formed an organisation for this purpose under the name "Zo Re-unification Organization".^[1][2][b] MPC's leader T. Sailo was elected as the Chairman, T. Gougin and C. Chawngkunga as Vice Chairmen, S. Thangkhangin Ngaihte and Lalhmingthanga as Secretary General, and Thangmawia as Treasurer.^[7] The delegates also declared that ZORO would not interfere with the local political programmes of the constituent parties.^[14]

Objectives and activities

ZORO's objectives include promoting Zo cultural preservation, fostering cross-border solidarity, and representing the Zo people in national and international forums. It also works on socio-economic development and educational initiatives within Zo communities.^[15]

The organization has actively participated in international platforms to advocate for the rights of the Zo people. Since 1999, ZORO has engaged with the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations (UNWGIP) and has been involved with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) since 2004.^[7][16] It is a registered participant in the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs.^[17] It has also participated in various international conferences, including those organized by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank, and the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to raise awareness about the Zo people's issues.^[18][19][20]

Advocacy and political engagement

ZORO has been vocal in opposing policies that it perceives as detrimental to the Zo people's interests. In January 2024, the organization opposed the Indian government's proposal to abolish the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and install a border fence along the India-Myanmar border. ZORO argued that such measures would disrupt the traditional and familial ties among the Zo people residing on both sides of the border, necessitating passports and visas for interactions that were previously unhindered.^[21]

The organization has also responded to ethnic tensions and conflicts affecting the Zo community. Following clashes in Manipur, ZORO organized a rally in Aizawl on 12 July 2023 to protest against the alleged persecution of the Zo people and to advocate for a unified Zo homeland. The rally underscored the organization's commitment to the unity and safety of the Zo ethnic groups.^[22]

International peace efforts

Beyond advocacy, ZORO has played a role in facilitating peace among various Zo-affiliated resistance groups in Myanmar's Chin State. In 2024, the organization was instrumental in organizing peace talks and reconciliation efforts among groups such as the Chin National Army (CNA), the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), and the Chin Brotherhood Alliance (CBA).^[23][24] These initiatives aimed to resolve internal conflicts and strengthen unity against the Myanmar military junta.^[25]

Organization structure

ZORO operates from its general headquarters in Aizawl, Mizoram, and has an elected body comprising a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary General, Treasurer, and other officials.^[26][27] The organization coordinates with various Zo communities and organizations across India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh to execute its programs and initiatives.^[23]

Notes

1. Zomi means "Zo people" and Mizo means "people of Zo".^[9]
2. Some news items mentioned the name of the organisation as "Zomi Reunification Organisation", possibly based on the name of the convention itself.^[10] That confusion persists till this day.^[12][13] There is however a quite different organisation called Zomi Reunification Organisation based in Churachandpur, founded in 1993.