The workshop programme of CBPHWT was conducted with health workers, health worker committee members, midwives and the workers of the Backpack totaling 58 members in all on the Indo-Burma border from 7 to 9 May 2012.

Diseases prevalent and prevention issues were discussed in the workshop. The workshop decided to promote public health education instead of rampant use of medicines in respective areas of Chin state.

Merlin, Care Myanmar, CBPHWT and Health and Hope Society have been working on a health system in rural areas of Chin state with different therapies and treatments for local people.

“It will help local people in future with different treatments and therapies. There is lack of education regarding health issues. Medicines may cure for the moment but we say that the people should not overtly depend on various medicines,” said Salai Dawt Mang, Director of CBPHWT.

The CBPHWT has instructed its workers to treat local people on the workshop treatment directions and create awareness about health care among local people. The CBPHWT also urged field workers and local people to understand and practice in the rural areas among local people for a stable health care programme.  Khonumthung news

The group was formed with the aim to expose racial and religion persecution and discrimination among Chin people by the government of Burma.

“We will especially monitor cases of religious persecution in Chin state,” said Salai Am Cung, a co-coordinator of CAG.

The CAG pointed out that religious persecution has been happening where Christian Crosses were destroyed in Kanpetlet Township, Southern Chin state on July 2010, Rung Mountain near Hakha, the capital of Chin state and Maul Bem village of Teddim Township.

Around 5000 Than Tlang local people of Chin state were being asked to sign a memorandum to submit to the central Burmese government on the cross destruction issue.

The members of the CAG authorities are:

1.    Salai Am Cung, Coordinator

2.    Ai Cin Pau, Assistance Coordinator – 1

3.    U Lin Htun, Assistance Coordinator – 2

4.    Salai Myo Chit, Member

5.    Salai Bawi Lian, Member

6.    U Than Law Kui, Member

7.    U Aih law Myah, Member

8.    Mai Chawk Hlei Par, Member

9.    Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, Trustee

9 May 2012 : The Chin National Front (CNF) delegation and the Government’s peace team signed  a15-point peace charter on 7 May in Hakha town, Chin state.

The Minister for Forest Affairs U Win Thun told Khonumthung that the agreement could be signed given the understanding reached at a meeting from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Union Rest House in Hakha town on  May 7.

He said, “We reached an agreement almost on all the proposals of both the delagtions in the second phase of the union level peace talk. We succeeded since there was an understanding on both sides and we focussed on the future on a positive note.”

Dr. Salai Andrew Ngunchung, spokesperson of the CNF said, “We  discussed 9 points about the work and responsibilities at the first meeting, but now we added another six points and reached an agreement.”

The 9 points included ceasefire, to open CNF’s liaison office in Tedim, Thantlang and Paletwa township, members of CNF be allowed free travel in Burma, continuation of  peace talks at the union level on the basis of the Constitution, ethnic affairs and democracy, to implement development with international NGOs, to abolish opium cultivation in Chin state and to cooperate between the CNF and the Chin state government on business and development.

Although other points of agreement are not yet confirmed, it was agreed to celebrate 20 February as Chin National Day and 3 January as Chin State Day, and to provide visa for Chin people in foreign countries. However, one point, that is to establish a special commercial zone in Chin state, proposed by CNF has been set aside for the next meeting.

The second phase of union level peace talks is to be held on May 7 and 8 in Hakha town. A 17-member CNF peace delegation has reached Matupi town and started discussions with the people from 8 am to noon. They met 3000 people on May 3.

The leader of the peace delegation, Dr. Sui Khar explained about the peace talk process to the public and said, “The new Burmese government is willing to talk about political issues. But some people have doubts and raised questions about how we can trust the government as there has been no change. We have some doubts too on either side and it is difficult to usher in peace. We, therefore, have to put aside these doubts for a while, and have decided to talk directly.”

At the first public consultation, Chief Minister U Hung Ngai, Border and Security Minister Zaw Min Oo, Transport and Construction Minister Ngun San Aung, Chin state Parliament Vice Chairman U Ung Lwin and other MPs from Mindat, Kanpalet and Matupi townships attended.

In the second phase, the first phase of peace talks will be reviewed for implementation, monitoring the ceasefire agreement, peace and fundamental rights of the people and discussions about Chin people who are outside Burma.

After this the CNF peace talk delegates will visit Thantlang town to meet the people, where its liaison office is to be opened.

Mr. U Aung Min, the Union Peace Commission leader, U Win Htun, Union Minister, U Hung Ngai, Chief Minister of Chin state and Colonel Zaw Min Oo, Border and Security Minister of Chin state will participate in the second phase of peace talks between the CNF and the government. Khonumthung news

Mr. Asley South, Norwegian Peace Initiative Consultant, Salai Bawi Lian Mang, Executive Director of Chin Human Rights Organization and U Harn Yawnghwe, Executive Director of Euro Burma offices were allowed by the Burmese government to attend the central level peace talks on the CNF side. But U Harn Yawnghwe will not be participating because of health reasons.

“It is good that the government has allowed our observers to participate. It is a good sign for the future peace process between the central government and the CNF,” Dr. Andrew, a representative of the CNF delegation said.

The CNF said in its statement today that the first phase of the peace talk process will be reviewed for implementation, monitoring the ceasefire agreement, peace and fundamental rights of the people for discussions about Chin people who are outside Burma.

The 17-member CNF delegation including Dr. Sui Khar, the team leader, Dr. Andrew Ngun Cung Lian, deputy team leader, members of the Supreme Council of the CNF and Army officials left for Hakha, the capital of Chin state today.

Mr. U Aung Min, the Union Peace Commission leader, U Win Htun, Union Minister, U Hung Ngai, Chief Minister of Chin state and Colonel Zaw Min Oo, Border and Security Minister of Chin state will be participated in the second phase of peace talks between the CNF and the government.

The CNF was formed in 1988 for self-determination of the Chin people, to restore democracy, and to establish a Federal Union of Burma. The statement said that the CNF will progress with its aims and objectives through the peace talk process. Khonumthung news

Mr. Ceu Bik Thawng, Secretary of CNP told Khonumthung that the project for the construction of the pagoda was passed by the Chin state assembly recently. The pagoda is to be built in Hakha, the capital of Chin state. Instances of demolition of the Christian cross have been ignored and no action taken by the authorities.

Mr. Thawng has been discussing this issue with local people in Chin state to get to the root of the problem of religious discrimination by the government and resolve it. The local Chin Christians have to face religious persecution and they comprise 90 percent of the population of the state.

“Local people are disappointed because of the religious persecution by the central government. They want to voice this issue, so I am discussing it with local people on how to solve it,” said Mr. Thawng.

Discussions will be on with local people of Hakha, Falam and Teddim town of Chin state.

The cross in Mual Bem village, Teddim Township in northern Chin state was demolished with a bulldozer by the local authorities led by Mr. Hau Khan Nang, an administrator of Mual Bem village on 11 April 2012.

Again, earlier, a cross in Rung Mountain near Hakha, the capital of Chin state was demolished on February 2012.

Soldiers of the Burmese Army also disrupted a Christian conference in Sabawngte village, Matupi Township near the Indo-Burma border and threatened Pu Van Cin, a Member of Parliament from the Ethnic National Development Party elected from Chin State Parliament in Burma’s November 2010 elections at gunpoint on 10 March.

Although the armed resistance group of the Chin National Front signed a preliminary ceasefire agreement with the Chin State government in January this year, but persecution of Christians and disruption of conferences continue in the state. Khonumthung news

Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, General Secretary of the CNP said, “We have learnt that the state government has asked U Aung Myo Htay, the state’s General Administrator to vote for the Pagoda, but that is not in accordance with the law, so we have requested the state government to cancel the project.”

Although there are 11 MPs in Chin state, regarding the building of the Pagoda, 12 votes were cast –7 votes from the ruling party and 5 votes from the opposition parties.

According to Article (248) of the Constitution and State or Region Law article (3)(a), the state and regional government should be formed by state or regional Chief Minister, Ministers and Law Ministers. State general administrator must act as “secretary” for the state government only.

Requisition letters have been sent to the President of Burma, Chairman of People’s Parliament, Chairman of National Parliament, Chairman of the State Constitution Affairs Bench, Chairman of Chin state Parliament. Other political parties were also given copies.  Khonumthung news

The offices reopened are in Teddim, Ton Zang, Falam, Mindat, Kanpetlet, Than Tlang, Hakha, Matupi and Rih, sub-town in Falam, Chin state from the first week of last month, said Pu Van Lian, Chairman of the Chin state NLD.

The party is trying to reopen its office in Paletwa Town of Southern Chin state and the members of the NLD there are gearing up to open their office, said Van Lian.

Political activities of the Chin state NLD came to a standstill in 2003 under the oppressive Burmese military dictatorship, but now, the Chin state NLD is being rejuvenated after the central NLD became involved in Burmese parliamentary politics.

“We are organizing youths in the region of Matupi Township to take interest in our movement. But only a few Hakha youths are working for our party as most have left the town and some are busy with their jobs.

A prayer programme was conducted by the Chin state NLD yesterday in Hakha to celebrate the landslide victory of NLD in the Burmese by election held by the Burmese government.

The most representative seats were won and four constituencies were won by Chin state NLD in the 1990 Burmese general elections in 13 constituencies in the state. Khonumthung news

“We can accept it if they were a Chin political party. It is not acceptable for us to allow them to set up their office in Paletwa. It is not their territory. The authorities should have consulted the Chin state government before making a decision on this issue,” said a government employee in Paletwa.

ALP and Rakhine state government delegations made an agreement to set up a liaison office for the ALP in Paletwa Town of Chin state and Kyuatdaw Town of Rakhine state in the first week of April.

“The central authorities ought to have consulted local people about this issue. We are not Arakanese. We cannot accept any other national armed group in our area. The Burmese government should have consulted local Khumi people before signing an agreement,” said a village administrator from Paletwa.

Chin people abroad have been pushing the Chin National Front (CNF), which signed a ceasefire agreement with the Chin state government recently to put on their agenda the next step for peace talks and demand revocation of the ALP’s liaison office issue.

The CNF has been urged to persuade the government to roll back the agreement if they do not drop the agreement for a liaison office of the ALP in Paletwa.

“Mr. Hla Maung Tin, Chief Minister of Rakhine state visited Paletwa without consulting the Chin state government. So doubts have arisen. I am expressing our party’s stand and will discuss this issue in the party executive committee meeting. There is something wrong between Chin and Rakhine people because the central government allowed the ALP to set up a liaison office in Chin state,” said Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, General Secretary of the Chin National Party (CNP).

“Secondly, I am worried that there will be clashes between Chin and Rakhine people on this issue because it is very sensitive. This problem will not be solved by democratic means and a federal system but will lead to racial problems,” said Salai Thawng.

Dr. No Than Kap, Chairman of the Chin Progressive Party (CPP) and Chin Affairs Minister of Sagaing division, Burma also told Khonumthung that if ALP’s liaison office is set up in Paletwa, we will not accept it. They (Rakhine) always insisted that Paletwa is included in Rakhine state. The CCP will discuss this issue with the Rakhine state government and Rakhine National Development party leaders.

A new Burmese army camp in Sittwe Town of Rakhine state battalion was set up in Paletwa Township, while an agreement for a Chin National Army camp to be set up in Paletwa Township was signed between the Chin state government and the Chin National Front in Hakha the capital of Chin state in the first week of January. Khonumthung news

The computers are being set up as part of the first phase in Lailenpi, Sabawngte village and Rizua high school, sub- Township in Matupi, Chin state, Pathen Tlang village high school in Paletwa Township, Hnaring village high school in Than Tlang township, Sakta and Surkhua village high school in Hakha township. Computers will be set up in No-1, high school in Matupi town, Sinletwa and Mica village high school in Paletwa Township in the next phase.

“We are focussing on high schools in rural areas. But, I do not know how many computers will be available,” said a field worker.

Dr. Sa Sa told Khonumthung that laptops and library infrastructure will be set up for all high schools in Chin state.

Dr. Sa Sa is receiving financial assistance annually for 10 students of Mara areas in Chin state, who have been getting high marks and distinctions in Mathematics for them to attend colleges and universities.

Besides, English speaking courses and basic medical training are being imparted by Dr. Sa Sa for around 300 Chin youths in Capi village in Saiha district, Mizoram state of northeast India since 2005-2006.

He plans to build a 50-bed hospital in Lailenpi Village in Matupi Township.