A nineteen-year-old woman died a day after soldiers shot her and a friend when they drove by a government building where the military is staying. Soldiers shot at Ma Nuam Za Thiang and friend Salai Ngun Nei Piang on their motorbike in Kalay, Sagaing Region, at about 9pm on June 23. Salai Ngun Nei Piang died instantly. Ma Nuam Za Thiang was shot in her leg and arrested immediately after the incident. Both of them lived in Falam Township, in Chin State, and came to Kalay to visit Ma Nuam Za Thiang’s mother. On Thursday, locals found Salai Ngun Nei…
Author: Editor
Over 42,000 have been displaced in Chin State in the five months since Burma’s military coup happened, according to Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO). The internally displaced persons (IDPs) urgently need humanitarian assistance, CHRO said. “IDPs in Mindat and other areas of Chin State told us they need food…They don’t have medicine too, and there are no medical workers in the camp,” said Salai Van Biak Thang, CHRO’s program coordinator. He explained because it is raining every day it is really hard for IDPs to sleep on the muddy ground with only a plastic sheet. According to CHRO, there are…
The Falam Christian Ministers Fellowship (FCMF) has imposed a ‘stay at home’ order for Falam town to curb infections amid a major COVID-19 outbreak that is overtaking the region. FCMF Chair Rev Daniel Vai Lian Zul explained the lockdown is in effect from June 23-30. “We will observe if we can reduce COVID-19 infections and the death toll in our town before lifting it,” he said. The fellowship instructed residents to stockpile food and other rations while promising to assist those in need. Vai Lian Zul said there are over 70 people infected with the virus at the hospital. He…
Soldiers who pretended to be from a civilian resistance group attacked a home in Sagaing Region, killing four family members and maiming their daughter. According to a man knowledgeable about the incident, soldiers arrived at the house in Inyar Kon ward in Kalay at about 9 pm on June 19. After soldiers threw stones at the house, a man came out and shouted at them. When the father and son tried to escape, soldiers shot them dead. The father’s daughter is in the hospital suffering from eye injuries caused by gunfire. The soldiers killed her mother and cousin during the…
Burma Army offensives against the People’s Defence Force in Mindat town and other villages in Chin State displaced thousands of civilians during the rainy season. Currently, over 8,000 people are living in 18 jungle camps without enough food, medicine and adequate shelter from the rain. Khonumthung News spoke with Catholic Monk Nicholas Ghung Thang Se helping residents of Lukse IDP (internally displaced persons) camp. What is the current situation for the residents at Lukse? A couple of days ago, some IDPs returned to their homes. I think there are about 200 people left in the camp, including all of the…
Ten people died from COVID-19 within 24 hours in Kalay, Sagaing Region. According to the COVID-19 Control and Protection Team for Kalay Township, all were elderly suffering from other high-risk diseases, including diabetes. “We gave them enough oxygen, but they couldn’t resist the disease,” said a person who works for the protection team. Four died in the hospital and six in a quarantine center. On June 17, there were seven cremated and three on June 18. Four are from Tar Han ward, two from Kalay Myo ward, one from Myo Hla ward, one from Pyin Khon Lay village, one from…
Hundreds of villagers are fleeing to the Indian state Mizoram to escape fighting between Tatmadaw and a civilian resistance group in northern Chin State. According to the Mizo media outlet Zonet, intensified fighting between Burma Army and Chinland Defence Force (CDF) in Thangtlang Township is causing the border exodus. Since the coup, more than 1,500 have sought refuge in the state. Pu MC Lalramenga, president of Tuipuiral Young Mizo Association (YMA), said there are 300 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Chawngtui and 60 are in Vaphai. Although the Indian government has officially forbidden IDPs from entering during the recent COVID-19…
Tatmadaw sent in one hundred reinforcements during fighting with the Thangtlang branch of Chinland Defence Force (CDF) during the conflict that started on June 10 in northern Chin State. “About 600 people from three villages hid in the jungle when they heard the sound of gunfire and artillery shells. We haven’t collected a detailed list of the IDPs (internally displaced peoples) from these locations,” a CDF member told Khonumthung News. The IDPs fled their homes in the middle of heavy rain and need shelter to stay dry, food and medicine. With fresh Burma Army soldiers arriving in the area, clashes…
Authorities released three civilians on Monday in southern Chin State arrested after explosions happened in front of a government building and a Myanma Economic Bank in Paletwa town at the end of last month. A woman whose husband wasn’t released told Khonumthung News police are keeping six people at a government building and the police station in town. “We worry about them because they haven’t done anything wrong,” she said, concerned police will charge them. The military council released Aik Awng Thiha, Aung Naing Tun and Aik John Nyan Lin Tun (aka Apusu). After the bombing, Burma Army arrested 18…
The military arrested 61 people after a bomb exploded in Hakha on Sunday, June 6. Authorities released 28 people the same day. No one knows why 33 people are still behind bars. Most of the detainees are youths, while those released are much older. Three bombs killed three members of the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) in a house in Myo Thit ward in Hakha on Saturday evening. After the blasts, the military arrested 50 youths. “Some were just walking on the street when the incident happened, while others went to inquire after hearing the explosions in the house,” a local…