Internally displaced persons (IDPs), who are taking refuge in Meezar village after fleeing from conflict in southern Chin State, don’t have enough to eat even after receiving financial aid from the state government and the World Food Programme (WFP). The Ministry of Social, Relief and Resettlement and WFP provided IDPs with some money to buy food, but due to inflation, they can’t buy much rice. Fighting between the Burma Army and Arakan Army (AA) has blocked vital land and water transportation routes from Paletwa town to the village, increasing the cost of goods. Because there are three Burma Army checkpoints…
Author: Editor
A market and minibus station is planned in the town of Rihkhawdar in Chin State, along the Indian border. Salai Thein Htay Lwin, from the town’s municipal committee, told Khonumthung News that construction will be completed by the Spring. “The chief minister of Chin State and our municipal minister told us to build the market and minibus station. We expect to finish the construction by March before the next government is sworn in.” Salai Thein Htay Lwi said a separate committee was being assembled to work with the General Administration Development officer to develop the project. “We intend to submit…
With transportation routes to Paletwa blocked by conflict, diesel prices have increased, reducing available fuel for generators providing power for the sequestered town not yet hooked up to the national power grid. Town residents used to get four hours of power a day but now get only two. Nang Wai, from the Relief and Rehabilitation Committee for Chin IDPs, told Khonumthung News that the power shortage is very difficult for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had to flee from their villages because of fighting between the Arakan Army and Burma Army in Paletwa Township. “A few months ago, we…
Health authorities detected 15 new COVID-19 cases in a quarantine facility in Kalay Public Hospital, located in Sagaing Region, yesterday (November 2). Nyi Zaw, Head of Public Relation and Information Department for Kalay District, informed Khonumthung News that the new transmissions may have been acquired in Tat-Oo Thida ward. All of the individuals in quarantine who became infected with acute respiratory disease were in contact with someone with the virus from the same ward. To control a potential outbreak, authorities are imposing a ‘stay at home’ order for Tat-Oo Thida, Aung Thitsa and Aung Mingalar wards. According to the Kalay…
Without access to the internet, residents of Paletwa Township, located in southern Chin state, can’t access vital information about the election or how to protect themselves during the pandemic. “We can’t communicate with other areas. We don’t know what’s happening with COVID-19 or the election,” a staff member at a women’s organization in Paletwa informed Khonumthung News. The government has restricted the internet in 8 townships in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township since June 21, 2019, because of the conflict between the Burma Army and Arakan Army. In Paletwa Township, only a 2G network is allowed. Nang Wai, from the…
Family and friends of Salai Aung Soe, who has been detained by the Arakan Army (AA) for over three months, are concerned about his safety. Many have called for AA, which is fighting with the Burma Army, to immediately release the Chin youth from Paletwa Township. Mai Nang Wai, with the Khumi Affairs Coordination Committee (KACC), told Khonumthung News they released many statements requesting the ethnic armed organization (EAO) to safely return Salai Aung Soe. “He’s just a normal civilian. I understand that AA acts in accordance with the Geneva Conventions … They should release him as soon as possible.…
The Khumi Affairs Coordination Committee (KACC) called for polling reinstated in 12 village-tracts in Paletwa Township, located in southern Chin State. The Union Election Commission (UEC) canceled the election in 94 village-tracts in the township on October 27, claiming regional instability. Yet, according to a KACC statement released the following day, in 12 village-tracts around Sami town, it’s peaceful. “Travel is convenient and security is also fine in these 12 village-tracts,” Salai Pein Nang, coordinator for KACC, told Khonumthung News. “I think it would be good if the election commission allows the election in these areas.” KACC wants polling to…
Even though the World Food Program (WFP) and government have been providing rice to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Paletwa Township, the supplies have now run out, locals say. A man helping the IDPs said that on October 14, the government provided 10 days’ worth of rice rations, and on October 19, the WFP provided four days of rations. The rice from both donations lasted until October 28. “Now they have run out of rice,” the man told Khonumthung News. He added that the WFP had also provided the IDPs with 30,000 kyats (US$23), but that rice was priced out…
Burma’s Vice President 2 Henry Van Thio’s current visit to Chin State will last until after the general election on November 8, a government spokesperson has said. The vice president is checking on the implementation of regional development projects in Hakha and will next go to Thantlang Township, where he is running for re-election to parliament representing the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD). “He is going to Thantlang for his election campaign. I think he will be in Thantlang until the end of the election,” Chin State municipal minister Soe Htet told Khonumthung News. Vice President Henry Van Thio…
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced the cancelation of the general election in 94 village tracts in Chin State’s Paletwa Township on Tuesday, citing ongoing instability. Lin Kyaw, secretary of the Chin State Election Commission, said voting would only take place in the township’s two towns, Sami and Paletwa, and in one village tract, Shin Letwa. “If we build many polling stations, people will suffer a lot because of regional instability. The parties won’t suffer. Electoral candidates won’t suffer,” he told Khonumthung News. There are a total of 102 village tracts in Paletwa Township’s two constituencies: 45 in Constituency 1…