Pu Vum Son Suantak, the outspoken Chin politician and litterateur died at a Laureal hospital in Maryland, United State yesterday. He was 68.

Ngo Cin Thawng, brother of Vum Son said “He vomited blood yesterday afternoon and was taken to the hospital. He expired soon.”

An amateur Chin traditional song composer, Vum Son worked together with the exiled Nation Coalition Government of Union of Burma or NCGUB from 1991 to 1999, was a member of the Board of Consultants of the Political Affairs Committee of Chinland, and human rights activist since 1987.

He was also is a member of the Zo-Re-Unification Organization since 1995 and served as coordinator and a lecturer in non-violent actions, human rights and minority rights.

Vum Son wrote a book on Zo history in English and Geochemical Exploration of Trace Elements in German.

Vum Son was born in Tedim Township of Chin state, in the west of Burma on November 9, 1937.

He went to Tedim State High School and completed his matriculation in 1957. He then joined Rangoon University in the capital of Burma from where he graduated with geology and chemistry. He received his master degree from Petroleum Exploration at the Mining Academy in Freiberg, Germany. He went on to become a doctorate in Natural Science from Bergacademie, Germany.

He represented the Chin Forum in drafting the federal and state Constitution and participated in various Burma related seminars.

His political activities involved, among other works, lobbying with Congress and the US Government for the cause of democracy in Burma.

He is survived by a brother Ngo Cin Thawng and two daughters Bianca and Lianna Suantak.