The Chin Youth Network (CYN) condemned the coup d’etat staged by the Burma Army on Monday, February 1, in a statement issued the following day, after the Tatmadaw—as they’re locally called—took over the country and declared a state of emergency after refusing to concede to the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) landslide victory during Burma’s recent election. “We reject any acts of violence and threats by the military to control the country by military force,” the statement said. “We strongly condemn the military coup that damages democracy and human rights” in Burma. CYN called for the release of opposition leader…
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The Tatmadaw Information Team claimed thousands of ballots cast could be fraudulent during the national election in Chin State’s Falam, Thangtlang and Tongzang townships. The group run by the Burma Army claimed to have found 12,992 overlapping and suspicious ballots in the three townships. On January 8, it said there were 3,843 suspicious ballots in Falam Township. A day later, it claimed that in the constituencies where its soldiers voted there were 5768 suspect ballots in Thangtlang Township and 3,381 in Tongzan Township. In many cases, the information team said that voters’ names were spelled incorrectly even though they registered…
After twenty-two people without travel history tested positive in Tedim Township, the Chin State Social Welfare minister requested for the Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 to impose a ‘stay at home’ order in the township. Minister Pau Lung Min Thang said because the cases are domestic, quick action is necessary to prevent further outbreaks, requesting the order to come into effect within the next 24-hours. Since January 11, there have been 26 cases found in the state. Among the 4 transmissions discovered in other regions is a woman who returned to Tongzang Township from Tedim. Two tested…
Salaries for government staff working in Chin State’s restive Paletwa Township have doubled from December to March. Awng Lor Har, the General Administration Development (GAD) officer for Paletwa Township, told Khonumthung News that it’s a good thing for the school teachers and health workers who have to travel to work in the remote township. “There are many schools in Paletwa without teachers. We need to persuade more teachers to come here to work, and paying them double is a great incentive.” Since 2015, violence between the Burma Army and Arakan Army (AA) has destabilized the region, displacing one-tenth of the…
The government of Chin State was criticized for not doing enough to help civilians displaced by the conflict between Arakan Army (AA) and Tatmadaw in southern Chin State. Mai Nan Wai, the spokesperson for Relief and Rehabilitation Committee for Chin IDPs (RRCCI), said if the government did its job the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Paletwa wouldn’t need their help or from any of the other volunteer groups operating in the area. “Although the Chin State government hasn’t completely ignored IDPs in Paletwa, they need to pay more attention to their needs, and it’s something we’ve already brought with them.”…
The Election Commission (EC) in Chin State said that accusations of voting fraud during the recent race levelled by the Tatmadaw were unsubstantial and without merit. The EC was referring to a recent investigation by the Tatmadaw Information Team that claimed over 6,000 votes cast in Hakha Township could be fraudulent. After an investigation at polling stations in the township the Burma Army said that 3,855 ballots overlapped and a further 3,090 votes appeared “suspicious”. The investigation by the Tatmadaw claimed 3,026 people were registered to cast ballots without a national ID card. A further 2,938 had ID but their…
An independence monument erected in Hakha, Chin State, was criticized for exorbitant spending during the pandemic in one of the poorest states of Burma. “It’s a waste of money,” Ko Hmong Noe, who leads the Tedim Youth Fellowship, told Khonumthung News. “The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many people in Chin State, including health staff. I think it would be better to spend the money fighting the virus rather than building the monument. It will be beneficial for more people.” Chin State Chief Minister Salai Lian Luai attended the unveiling this Monday, January 4, on the 73th Independence Day, in Khucilobo…
The COVID-19 pandemic struck the world in 2020, and it was the vulnerable people and the minorities who especially bore the brunt of the crisis. Also, youth across the globe not only lost their loved ones to COVID-19, but also their jobs to make ends meet, and up to 90% were deprived of the opportunities to learn as schools stopped. Portions of them had to suffer discrimination and violence in homes and societies with no work or schools open, and some spiraled down to depression and helplessness. Amid the public health crisis, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) strived for…
Chin residents unhappy that the government re-designated Shwe Aung Tha village from Chin State to Magwe Region protested on Tuesday morning, December 22. About 30 people joined the demonstration, which included villagers from Shwe Aung Tha. They called on the Magwe Region Forest Department to drop charges against 18 residents who built homes near a section of the village in an area the government has declared as part of the forest reserve. The government demarcated the border between Chin State and Magwe Region in 2018 after establishing a protected forest reserve. Gaay Kee, who led the protest in Mindat town,…
The Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD) pledged its willingness to cooperate with the National League for Democracy (NLD) after the incumbent party sent out an open letter requesting the support of ethnic groups following yet another landslide victory during the 2020 race. CNLD informed Khonumthung News that it would work with the NLD to establish a democratic federal union. Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, CNLD’s secretary, told Khonumthung News, that CNLD’s policies “are based on ethnic equality and self-determination rights, as outlined in the Panglong Agreement.” NLD’s open letter titled ‘Future Union Affairs’ was sent to 48 ethnic parties on…