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…
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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…
The Chin State government says it will accept all the Chin citizens living in Mizoram State in India if they return home through the appropriate border crossing. “We welcome all returnees,” Chin State Health and Social Affairs Minister Pau Lum Ming Thang told Khonumthung News, provided they return to the country through designated entry points. All returnees must enter through the Burma border trading zone-2 in Rihkhawdar and Kyehka towns, he says, and then required to stay at a government quarantine facility for 21 days before they are allowed to return to their homes. Pau Lum Ming Thang warned that…
The Chin State government will sell plots of land from the Hakha Urban Project to residents of Hakha Township by lucky draw. “We started selling land plots to locals yesterday (July 1),” says Soe Htet, spokesperson for the Chin State government. “We’re selling to 437 families who don’t already own land and have lived in Hakha for more than 10 years.” Families who win the draw can buy land plots of 100 ft x 100 ft, 80 ft x 80 ft, 80 ft x 60 ft and 60 ft x 40 ft from the government. It will cost 15 million…
The Chin State government plans to erect a massive independence monument in Hakha for a price tag of $45K. The monument, which will be in Khusilobo park, in Myothit ward, will cost the government 61.6 million kyat, according to Hakha city council. The Chin State Municipal Department pledged 50 million kyat and the state government will kick in the remaining 11.6 million kyat. KO Andrew Thatuang, who heads the Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA) for Chin State, criticized the government for spending so much on a monument, while more important public works remain underfunded. “Do we really need…
As conflict grows in Paletwa Township in southern Chin State, many fear that voting will be suspended in the beleaguered township during the 2020 general elections. With five constituencies, Paletwa Township has the largest population of the nine townships in Chin State. Saw Mya, chair of Khumi Affairs Coordination Committee (KACC), said if there isn’t polling in Paletwa, it will be a huge loss. “If the election isn’t held in Paletwa, there will be no parliamentarians representing Paletwa and our township won’t get a development fund,” he says, explaining there won’t be any money to fund the many small projects.…
After a flight test at Surbung Airport, personnel discovered a nearby hill needed to be removed before the long-delayed airport being built in Chin State’s Falam Township could be completed. Chin State spokesperson Soe Htet says 97 percent of the construction has been completed. The next step is to level the hill. Then taxiway centerlines can be added. “Once we’ve done that, then an aircraft can land at our airport.” he says. The hill could pose a risk for landing aircrafts, he explains, but to eliminate it they need to expand the airport’s budget. During flight testing from June 25…
The government distributed rice to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Paletwa town, as well as locals who live near the town, over the last week, a spokesperson for the Chin State government said. People in the area have been struggling to get enough food since roads from Sami town and waterways from Kyaktaw in Rakhine State have been blocked due to the ongoing fighting between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army. “We gave out rice rations for a week. We gave rice to the whole IDP population in the camp,” Chin State government spokesperson and municipal minister Soe Htet…