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…
Author: Editor
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…
A Chin youth who was released by the Arakan Army (AA) said the ethnic armed organization (EAO) accused him of writing negative stories about the group in the press. “They accused me of disturbing their operations. They said I worked for a Khumi media group and that I was connected with the Burma Army,” Salai Aung Soe told Khonumthung News. AA soldiers arrested him and three other Chin youth near Nga Tharai village in Kyauktaw Township on July 29. The youth were traveling to Paletwa town in southern Chin State from Kyauktaw town. AA released the other youth on August…
The Khumi Affairs Coordination Committee (KACC) commended the release of a Chin youth prisoner by the Arakan Army (AA) this Tuesday, December 15. “We waited so long for his release…We’re very happy for him and his family,” Salai Pai Nan, KACC’s coordinator, told Khonumthung News. After holding Salai Aung Soe for just over four months in a secret location, AA released the youth to two members from his family and a village leader. The ethnic armed organization (EAO) arrested him and three other Chin youth near Nga Tharai village in Kyauktaw Township on July 29. The youth were traveling to…
The Chin State Election Commission (EC) reported that all candidates who competed in the recent race submitted their expense reports on deadline. Because of the conflict in Paletwa Township, electoral candidates in this region had to take photos of their reports and send by Viber phone messaging, according to the Matupi District EC. Min Aung Shein, EC secretary for the district, told Khonumthung News despite the obstacles they faced, everyone got it on time. “We printed them out, checked their expenses for the election campaign and everything is fine.” According to Burma’s election law, a candidate can spend up to…
While national measures limiting social activities bring out changes of daily routine due to the pandemic, efforts to understand spiritually about life facing diseases and related social changes are underway across religion. On December 14, 560 representatives from 31 religions in 80 countries including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism and Sikhism joined in an online gathering named “HWPL End-of-year Religious Leaders’ Gathering: United Hopes & Prayers for a Brighter 2021” to express words of consolation to humanity and reaffirm inter-religious commitment to and dialogue for peace. 11 religious leaders representing different religions prayed for wisdom and solution to the…
A Chin youth abducted by the Arakan Army (AA) in Burma’s southern Chin State was eventually released after being detained for several months. The ethnic armed organization (EAO) released Salai Aung Soe this Tuesday, December 15, at about 2 p.m., after detaining the youth at a secret location for four months and sixteen days. His brother-in-law, Ko Ram Hnin, told Khonumthung News that Salai Aung Soe’s health is good. AA contacted the family about two days ago to pick him up in Kandywa village, he said. Two members of the family and the head of their village went to get…
The chairperson for the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Thantlang Township has submitted a letter of resignation, according to the party’s chair for Chin State. In addition to serving as his party’s chair for the township, Pu C. Za Cung was elected as a Lower House parliamentarian for Thantlang in the November 8 general election. A copy of a letter appearing to have been signed by Pu C. Za Cung, has been circulating on social media alleging corruption during the recent election. The letter said that six companies and their leaders supported the politician in return for business concessions…