Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD) announced it would not broadcast their party’s policy speech on Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) after it was censored. Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, CNLD’s general secretary, said key points were eliminated from multiple paragraphs. The party boycotted the 2017 by-election after facing the same conflict with MRTV, he said. “It’s happened again! We won’t broadcast our party’s policy speech on MRTV during NLD’s time in office. They undermine freedom of speech for political parties and politicians. They ignore the democratic values and political opinions of the ethnic people!” The party issued a statement condemning…
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The Central Chin Youth Organization (CCYO) has called for the release of Salai Aung Soe, who has been in Arakan Army (AA) custody since late June. Salai Nobeik Thang, chair for CCYO, told Khonumthung News it condemns all armed organizations that are kidnapping, torturing and killing Chin people. “We call for the immediate release of Salai Aung Soe. And we demand that armed organizations do not arrest Chin people or Chin youths in the future.” CCYO released a statement on October 3 demanding AA release Salai Aung Soe. The ethnic armed group abducted him on July 29 with three other…
The Chin State Election Commission (EC) found that the number of voters registered for the 2020 election has decreased since its first posting. On October 1, it announced that 332,698 people could vote when the polls open in early November, compared with 342,137 during the first time it was posted. The numbers have dropped by 9,439 voters. Lin Kyaw, who’s secretary of Chin State EC, told Khonumthung News that since the first posting some people have died or gone abroad and this, as well as other factors, led to a reduction in overall numbers. Voters are advised to check their…
There were nine new COVID-19 transmissions in Kalay town, located in Burma’s Sagaing Region, this Thursday (October 1). Shar Mee, a parliamentarian for Kalay Township, told Khonumthung News the new cases were discovered on September 29 and 30, after 142 people were tested. “I can’t confirm the sources of the (new) COVID-19 infections because some people returned from China,” she said while speculating the latest outbreak could be related to a teenager who recently traveled to Kalay by bus. In the new cases, eight people are from the Sanmyo ward, located in Kalay town, bringing the total transmissions in the…
The Paletwa Township electricity distribution department announced on Thursday that they would no longer be able to provide electricity to the town as the last of the township’s diesel fuel supply had run out. The fuel is used to power a generator because Burma’s national electricity grid does not reach Paletwa. Residents of Paletwa town typically have four hours of electricity per day, provided by the diesel-run generator. Awng Law Har, a General Administration Department (GAD) officer for Paletwa, told Khonumthung News that 120 barrels of diesel fuel were available in Sami town, but that they could not be transported…
The Chin Youth Network (CYN) has urged the ethnic Chin community to vote for candidates from the Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD) in Burma’s upcoming general election, scheduled for November 8. The CYN released its statement of endorsement on September 28. Salai Mon Bio, a CYN central committee member, told Khonumthung News that his organization believes that the CNLD will better serve the Chin community. “We haven’t gotten what we really wanted during the political transition in our country. What we want is to implement the promises of the Panglong Agreement, and to build a federal Union. We cannot…
Sixteen cases of COVID-19 were reported in Mindat, located in Burma’s southern Chin State, this Monday (September 28). Dr. Zaw Win Naing, the head of the hospital in Mindat Township, told Khonumthung News that all of them were domestic transmissions. The new cases tested positive while in quarantine. It’s why it’s important to wear face masks to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the doctor said. “Everyone should wear face masks when they leave their homes.” In all, Mindat Township has 19 cases. The government’s Ministry of Health and Sports confirmed 11,631 confirmed cases on September 28, while there were…
A woman was killed by a landmine this Friday (September 18) while collecting bamboo shoots in the jungle in Chin State’s Paletwa Township. May Nu Thein, 40, and two female friends were in a jungle east of the Kalandan River when she stepped on the explosive device at about 9 a.m. killing her instantly. Zarni, who works with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Paletwa Township, told Khonumthung News that all of the women are Rakhine and from Myoma ward in Paletwa town. During the blast, he said one of the women was knocked unconscious and taken to Paletwa Public Hospital…
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) staying in camps in Paletwa town in southern Chin State say their current food supplies will only last a matter of days. The IDPs fled clashes between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army. The Chin State government, World Food Programme, and various civil society organizations have been providing them with food assistance. “The quota of rations will run out on September 20, so they are going to have difficulties,” Zarni, a volunteer helping the IDPs, told Khonumtung News. “We tried to buy rice with donated money. Here in Paletwa, the price of a bag of…
The Chin National Front (CNF) is urging political parties that want to launch electoral campaigns in their territory to inform the ethnic armed organization in advance. The recommendation was made in a September 7 CNF statement. “The reason for it is to control the spread of COVID-19,” CNF spokesperson Salai Htet Ni told Khonumthung News, adding, “We want all political parties to follow the health guidelines of the UEC [Union Election Commission].” Salai Htet Ni said that the Chin National Party had already contacted the CNF regarding their campaign in Chin State. The spokesperson also alleged that some political parties…