Internally displaced people (IDPs)—ethnic Chin—who have sought refuge in Ann town in Rakhine State are in need of emergency aid, according to local sources. There are a total of 1,534 people in the town’s two IDP camps, the majority of whom are Chin, Salai Issac Khin, the chair of the Relief and Rehabilitation Committee for Chin IDPs (RRCCI), told Khonumthung. In addition to those in camps, some 3,000 Chin people are staying in relatives’ homes in Ann. “These IDPs need food and shelter. They also need health assistance and their children need education,” he said. While the government provides aid…
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Civil society organizations (CSOs) in southern Chin state say the government’s efforts to build schools for internally displaced children are not enough. With schools resuming soon, there are still not enough buildings for classes or even materials to hold them in war-torn Paletwa Township. The Chin State government is building several ’80 by ’30 temporary buildings at Sami High School and Lake Hkone Middle School in Sami town. But they are not big enough for everyone to attend classes. Over 3,300 people fled clashes between Arakan Army (AA) and the Burma Army, of which 800 are children. Zaw Li Awng,…
Dr. Muu Thang, chair of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) for Chin State, speculated it is unlikely for any of the political parties to score a majority during the upcoming general elections. The National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in the 2015 election, he says, but many who voted for them aren’t happy with their performance. “In 2015, everyone loved NLD, but that has changed,” Muu Thang says, predicting the vote will be divided when polls open on November 8. USDP, which was headed by the former President Thein Sein, was formed by the military…
Thousands of civilians fleeing fighting between the Burma Army and Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State sought refuge in the town of Ann, which is already crowded with villagers forced from their homes during previous clashes in Ann Township. Salai Tun Hla Kyaw, who’s the chair of Chin University Students in Rakhine State, told Khonumthung News since June 28 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have started arriving in the town of Ann from Derlet village-tract. They’re being driven out by “regional instability,” he says, and “struggling to get food rations.” More than 2,000 came to Ann, half of them staying with…
NGOs in association with the United Nations and religious communities around the globe are raising their voices on the need to correct inappropriate persecution and human rights violation against a religious group in South Korea named Shincheonji Church of Jesus. 11 NGOs including the European Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC) submitted a report for “annual report for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights” to the UN Secretary-General at the 44th session in the UN Assembly Human Rights Council. The report is titled “scapegoating members of Shincheonji for COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea.” By…
A veteran Chin politician has announced he won’t contest the upcoming elections, leaving behind many colorful decades in politics. Pu Cin Shin Thang, the chair of Zomi Congress for Democracy (ZCD) won’t run in the 2020 general election, says General Secretary Pu Gin Kam Lian. “He’s over 80 years old,” Pu Gin Kam Lian says, and ready to retire from politics. Pu Cin Shin Thang, 82, secured a parliamentary seat for Tedim Township during the 2015 general election. During the 1990 general election, Pu Cin Shin Thang led the Zomi National Congress Party (ZNC) to a victory in Tedim Township.…
A government letter sent to political parties inviting their members to attend a Martyrs’ Day Commemoration on July 19 specified that attendees wear ethnic Bamar traditional dress, a requirement which ethnic nationalities have criticized. The invitation to the 73rd Martyrs’ Day event came from the Union Election Commission and the government. It said that a requirement of attending would be wearing the Burmese traditional turban and a black Burmese traditional coat. “This country is a multiethnic country,” Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, the general secretary of the Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD), told Khonumthung News. “Ethnic people have their own…
The Hakha Township Election Commission and Hakha-based civil society organizations (CSOs) held a meeting in Hakha, Chin State on Monday to discuss election matters, like inclusion and accessibility regarding voting. Civil society representatives recommended setting up a hotline directly connected to local election commission offices and suggested posting a list of eligible voters online. “It’s important that people know if their name is on the eligible voter list,” Lin Kyaw, the secretary of the Chin State Election Commission told Khonumthung News. “We also discussed how we can cooperate with media groups and local CSOs. It’s also important how we can…
Patient 232 was discharged from Hakha hospital on Monday in Chin State after his COVID-19 test came back negative twice. The man was the last confirmed patient with COVID-19 in Chin State, the location where Burma’s first coronavirus patient was also found. “His testing results have been negative two times. He is going to leave the hospital today. His health is fine. He will have to stay in home quarantine for seven days after leaving the hospital,” Dr. Mang Biek Kong, head of Hakha’s public hospital, told Khonumthung News. Patient 232 had returned to his native Mindat town from Malaysia,…
The Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD) will contest at least 35 parliamentary seats in Chin State in Burma’s coming election, party representatives said. The Union Election Commission (UEC) has scheduled the 2020 general election for November 8. “I cannot confirm the exact number, but I think we will run in at least 35 out of 39 constituencies in Chin State,” Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, the general secretary of the CNLD, told Khonumthung News. According to Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, the CNLD could run for all the seats in Chin State’s eight townships but has yet to decide if it…