Burma Army continued its assault on Mindat, firing at least 15 rounds into the southern Chin State town guarded by Chin Defense Force (CDF) on Saturday morning, May 15. The latest shelling comes after six helicopters arrived the same day, delivering fresh troops and weapons to the military’s Battalion-274. “They attacked Mindat town with artillery; shells landed near a pagoda and High School No-3. People are hiding in their homes,” a man from Mindat told Khonumthung News. A Burma Army unit is deployed in Na-Ta-La School west of town, and a military column is on route to a Four-mile Buddhist…
Author: Editor
A man arrested by Burma’s military regime died while being transferred from Hakha to Kalay, Khonumthung News has learned. Burma Army grabbed Pu Tler Ling in his paddy field in Nua Chaung, Hakha Township on May 9. He reportedly died on his way to Kalay, located in Sagaing Region, where Burma Army was sending him for medical treatment. “I assume he died from serious wounds caused by armed forces torturing him in a detention camp,” a man from the Chin State capital told Khonumthung News. Pu Tler Ling’s body hasn’t yet been returned to his family. No one knows why…
No students attended classes at Hakha University in the Chin State capital on May 5 after the military council opened all universities and colleges across Burma for students in their final year. Dr. Lian Za Hkuk, the deputy rector of Hakha University, told Khonumthung News that teachers were ready to teach classes when it opened last week, but no pupils joined them. Some came to the school, he said, but they just hung around the campus. One hundred and twelve students are registered to complete their master’s or bachelor’s degree, the deputy rector explained. “All of the teachers joined the…
Armed forces arrested three people in Hakha to question them the day after fighting broke out between Chinland Defense Force (CDF) and Burma Army. An eyewitness heard 26 rounds fired and a bomb explosion during fighting at about 8:30 pm on May 4 in the Chin State capital. The civilian armed group exchanged fire with Burma Army at BOC Gate near Inn-Wa bank. According to CDF, at least one Burma Army soldier was killed, another was wounded. Khonumthung News was unable to independently confirm this information. Burma Army arrested two women and a man in a home in Myo Thit…
Two women were arrested by Burma Army soldiers who confiscated their motorbike in the town of Homalin, Sagaing Region, according to an eyewitness. “Soldiers arrested them when they were hiding in a bush,” a woman told Khonumthung News. She said the women are detained at Myoma Police Station in Homalin but couldn’t provide more information. Ma Cho Lwin, from Nawng Pakyit village and an unidentified woman were arrested the evening of May 2 after joining a protest against the junta in Homalin earlier in the day. Elders of the town are negotiating with police officers for their release. Armed forces…
Authorities in southern Chin State released seven youths following several days of violence between the Burma Army and a civilian defense group in Mindat. Seven people were arrested on April 24. At least some of them were detained for putting up posters condemning the junta in front of a statue of Gen Aung San. Fighting broke out when authorities refused to release them. Chinland Defense Force (CDF) ambushed a Burma Army military convoy at the Htin Chaung junction carrying reinforcement troops to Mindat from Kyauk Htu. In Mindat, gun battles broke out between the defense force and the military. The…
Civilians shot back against soldiers who attacked them, according to a local man familiar with the incident in Mindat town. Several soldiers were injured during an exchange of gunfire, while authorities detained three civilians during the clash that broke out around 9 pm on April 24. Khonumthung News couldn’t confirm the status of the soldiers except that they are in the hospital. At least two Burma Army soldiers were shot and killed by fellow soldiers during a quarrel at a government housing in the Chin State capital, Hakha, on April 23. In Mindat, four women and three men were arrested…
249 youth organizations with 1.7 million members from 65 countries joined in joint statement advocating peaceful solutions to the human rights crisis in Myanmar. Through this “Joint Statement of World’s Civil Society and Youth on Myanmar’s Human Rights Crisis,” youth organizations take into account international cooperation to increase the collective voice for seeking solutions through talks among the stakeholders of the country. In the statement, it said, “We urge the head of state of each country and the international community to actively pursue peaceful measures to safeguard the lives of Myanmar’s citizens.” It added, “We urge people and media worldwide…
Chin communities formed a new ethnic armed organization (EAO) to fight for more independence for Chin State, according to Salai William Chin, the group’s spokesperson. The Chin National Organization (CNO) and military wing, Chin National Defense Force (CNDF), will work towards the establishment of a federal union and self-determination for Chins, as well as peace and prosperity, according to the spokesperson. To resolve the current political crisis, Salai William Chin said it will cooperate with other stakeholders opposed to the military regime. According to CNO/CNDF’s recent statement, these include the National Unity Government and ethnic and democratic political organizations. He…
Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) pledged support for Burma’s new interim government formed by Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hlutaw (CRPH). “They are elected and therefore mandated by the people…The interim government will work towards restoring human rights, democracy and federal matters in our country,” Salai Za Uk Ling, CHRO deputy director, told Khonumthung News. CRPH was established by National League for Democracy MPs elected during last year’s race who were removed from office during the military coup. CHRO released a statement congratulating the officials CRPH appointed for the newly formed National Unity Government (NUG) “as they strive to provide new direction…