The government of Chin State sent rice, domestic products and construction materials to the town of Paletwa this Monday, October 12. Fighting between Burma Army and Arakan Army prevented rice and other essential items from reaching the town in southern Chin State by regular routes for many months. Soe Htet, the state’s spokesperson and minister of Municipal Affairs, said 1,700 bags of rice were shipped from Sami to Paletwa in 12 vehicles. Domestic items, other food items and building materials were sent in 29 vehicles. Everything was expected to arrive on Tuesday, October 13, he said. “The Burma Army is…
Author: Editor
The regional government lifted a ‘stay at home order’ in Sanmyo ward and re-opened the Tarhan market in Kalay town, located in Sagaing Region, this Monday (October 12) after no new coronavirus transmissions were reported. Nyi Zaw, who is in charge of Kalay District Information Department, told Khonumthung News the measures, which were in effect for two-weeks, were revoked after no COVID-19 cases were reported. “All market vendors are required to follow health guidelines that are mandated by MoHS (Ministry of Health and Sports) when opening their stalls.” Not all of the vendors returned to work today, he added. The…
Thirteen Chin youth organizations are calling for legal action against officials who ordered a young Chin woman to be hastily buried on a lonely roadside after her body was returned to Burma following a tragic accident in Malaysia. The youth organizations released a joint statement on October 7 demanding that the Chin State government create an independent inquiry, which includes Chin elders, to investigate. Salai An No Bik, chair of Central Chin Youth Organization, questioned why Mai Shui Lay Tiel’s body was prevented from reaching the town. “Many Bamar (aka Burmese) people serve in the Thangtlang Township COVID-19 Control and…
For one week, Paletwa town in southern Chin State has been unable to restart its diesel-powered generator, due to a lack of fuel. While 120 barrels of diesel sits in Sami town—also in Paletwa Township—General Administration Department officer Awng Law Har told Khonumthung News that they cannot be transported due to ongoing regional instability. “We are unable to provide electricity to the town as of today. We cannot bring in fuel for security reasons,” Awng Law Har said. The Burma Army has frequently clashed with the Arakan Army in Paletwa Township. All roads have been cut off linking Paletwa to…
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…
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…