Villagers and local administrators are planning to move the body of a World War II-era Chin soldier in the aftermath of a natural disaster in his home community. Col Sithu Hrang Thio’s tomb was originally set up in Falam Township’s Thanhniar village, but following a bad storm in 2015, the colonel’s descendants moved to Lungpi village, taking the remains with them. Rev Don Hre Dun, the nephew of Sithu Hrang Thio, told Khonumthung News that they have asked the municipal committee to provide space in the municipal park for the tomb. Township administration officer Caawi met Col Hrang Thio’s grandchildren…
Author: Editor
A demonstration originally planned for Monday against the Chin State government’s establishment of a national park and dam on locals’ ancestral land has been delayed until next month. Villagers from the community of Chuncung, whose land and livelihoods would be affected by the project, will determine a date for the demonstration after the November 3 by-elections, following a request to do so from local administrators. “The township general administration office called us. They said they would be busy with security issues because of the by-elections and requested that we demonstrate after it. So we decided to demonstrate after the by-elections,”…
Organizers completed an ethnic Matu forum in Chin State’s Matupi Township despite a verbal order from state authorities to close the event. The forum was held from October 23-25. However, on the first day of the event, the Matupi Township administrator summoned the organizers and asked them to end the forum. Chin Youth Organization’s Matupi chairman Annobik said that it since it was “not an official order with a document,” they decided to continue for the full three days. The Matu forum was held with the Chin League for Democracy, which will run in the Matupi Township by-elections this year.…
Two people from Chin State were arrested across the Indian border in Mizoram for smuggling gold, with police seizing more than US$330,000 worth of gold bars. According to Mizoram daily newspaper Banglaini, the arrests occurred on October 18, and were a joint effort between the Aizawl regional Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and a military battalion based in Assam. The two men were reportedly traveling in a maxicab from Aizawl in Mizoram to Assam State. Police said that the 45 gold bars in the men’s possession were headed for Guwahati town. The men arrested included 19-year-old Than Thawn Mung and…
The 14 people were apprehended for trying to cross the Myanmar-India Friendship Bridge outside of official hours. Twelve Bangladeshi nationals and two Burmese guides were arrested in Rihkhawdar, Chin State early Thursday morning, according to the state’s information ministry. The Ministry of Information’s deputy director Pu Lalpeklawma said that the individuals were apprehended near the No. 2 trading zone at around 4 a.m. for entering Burma illegally—two hours before the Myanmar-India Friendship Bridge opens. “They entered Burma through the iron frame of the bridge. It’s an illegal entry. That's why we arrested them,” the deputy minister told Khonumthung News. All…
Government departments will cooperate with local civil society organizations and young people to draft a one-year plan to advance youth development in Rihkhawdar, Chin State. The township’s Information and Public Relations Department and educational department are on board with the plan. According to the information ministry’s deputy director Pu Lalpeklawma, the project will span the 2018-2019 financial year, which begins this months and concludes in September of next year. “The main objective of this project is for youth to have more knowledge, to develop good habits of reading, to be good citizens, and to study well around their environment,” Pu…
China’s ambassador to Burma met the Chin State government last week in Hakha to discuss China-backed transportation and hydroelectric projects. H.E. Hong Liang met with the state government delegation on the evening of October 11 in his first trip to Chin State, before leaving the following day. “We mainly discussed assistance for upgrading roads. Our roads are really bad…they said that the roads need to be upgraded,” U Soe Htet, a Chin State government spokesperson and municipal minister, told Khonumthung News. “They have been building the [New] Silk Road for expansion of their businesses. They said they will help us…
Plans to erect a statue of the late Burmese independence icon Gen Aung San have been postponed in the Chin State town of Thantlang following local objections. Thantlang’s municipal committee halted plans to set up the statue after local civil society organizations and student groups informed authorities that they would demonstrate against the project on October 15. Thantlang residents have opposed the stationing of a statue of Gen Aung San in the town, suggesting that it would be more fitting to have an ethnic Chin historical figure memorialized there. Aung San, the father of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi,…
A delegation from the World Bank met Chin State government representatives on Tuesday to discuss a project to upgrade the highway connecting Kalay, in Sagaing, with Chin State’s Falam and Hakha townships. “We want this road to be built as soon as possible. They haven’t completed technical matters including design […] and studying the environmental issues. Construction will be kicked off after the completion of those studies,” U Shwe Htee O, Chin State’s transportation minister, told Khonumthung News. The officials, which included World Bank environmental specialist Martin Fodor, also met representatives of Chin civil society organizations in Hakha to discuss…
There are 30,055 eligible voters for the upcoming by-elections in Matupi and Kanpetlet townships, according to the Chin State Election Commission. The voter list has been posted in the two Chin State townships since October 1, said U Lin Kyaw, the election commission’s secretary. There are 17,604 people registered to vote in Matupi and 12,451 in Kanpetlet. The by-elections are scheduled for November 3. “We are preparing for secret voting. All eligible voters must see the voter list. I don’t want any eligible voters missing from the voter list. The village level commission and ballot office staff will monitor and…