The Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD) announced last week it would contest the general election in at least 48 constituencies in two states and two regions. The constituencies include all 33 in Chin State, eight in Magwe Region, four in Sagaing Region, and as well as the Chin affairs ministerial posts Rakhine State and Sagaing and Magwe. The announcement came on July 22, following approval by CNLD secretary Salai Ceu Bik Thawng in a party meeting on July 19. “We already approved 48 representatives. Some people are still applying to be electoral candidates, so our selection process is ongoing.…
Author: Editor
On July 20, a webinar on a new religious movement in South Korea and its political, religious, and social dimensions with the recent COVID-19 crisis invited international scholars and experts in the field of religion, international law, and human rights. Titled “COVID-19 and Religious Freedom: Scapegoating Shincheonji in South Korea”, the webinar addressed the recent issues of aggressive attack from politically powerful conservative and fundamentalist Protestant churches in the country on a newly-established, fast-growing Christian denomination named ‘Shincheonji (New Heaven and New Earth) Church of Jesus’ founded in 1984. The new Christian movement by Shincheonji has become a target of…
All of the high schools in conflict-affected southern Chin State accepting enrollment for the 2021-2022 academic years were prevented from opening when classes across Burma resumed again on July 21, following the end of a partial lockdown introduced in early April. Salai Aung Min, head of Paletwa Township Education Department, said none of the learning institutions could comply with the new health regulations set by the government’s Ministry of Health and Sports, intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus when students return to classes. Government health officials rated schools across Burma with scores of A, B or C, with…
The Chin State Election Commission plans to construct more than 30 ballot stations accessible to people with disabilities so that voters with wheelchairs can participate in Burma’s general election on November 8. There are a total of 3,031 people in the state who are eligible to vote who also have disabilities, according to the election commission. Lin Kyaw, the commission’s secretary, said that they would create 37 ballot stations for these individuals in eight townships in Chin State—all except Paletwa, which continues to be the site of armed conflict between the Burma Army and Arakan Army. “These ballot stations may…
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…
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.…