Food markets in southern Chin State are nearly empty after prolonged fighting has prevented river boats from transporting goods to markets. Clashes between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army (AA) in southern Chin State and northern Rakhine State have stopped all shipments of rice, cooking oil and other domestic products from reaching Paletwa township since early February. “There’s no rice left in the market; the shops have already closed. We have the money but we still can’t buy it,” a government employee told Khonumthung News. There’s also very little fresh and dried food, he said. “It’s really difficult to…
Author: Editor
The Chin State government will allow the Chin National Front (CNF) to deliver a speech at the upcoming 72nd Chin National Day Commemoration in Thantlang town in Chin State on Thursday. Originally the CNF was only permitted to attend the event—not speak at it—but following an official letter from the organization to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, the CNF was informed that they could give a speech at the national day celebration. “We requested to deliver a speech but the Chin Stat government rejected our request. It was a policy from above. We told them we would not attend…
In a move that has upset the local Chin community, the Sagaing regional government ordered a stone monument explaining the significance of an ancient banyan tree in Tamu Township be demolished on February 13. The monument was located in Kham Pert town, next to the banyan tree believed to be hundreds of years old. It bore an inscription in the Lushine Chin language as well as English and Burmese, describing the community’s ancestral journey from northwestern China and northeastern Tibet to the area in 800 CE. According to local historians, the Lushine Chin people planted the banyan tree in Kham…
Fighting that has suspended ferries between Paletwa in southern Chin State and Kyauktaw in Rakhine State have caused food costs to rise. Clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and Burma Army have stopped all riverboat shipments of rice, cooking oil, salt and other domestic products to Paletwa for over a week. “We dare not travel these days. Clashes are breaking out in the lower part (of the river). The situation is really bad!” said a ferry operator from Paletwa that didn’t want their name used. Rice has gone up from 20,000 kyat (about US$14) to 30,000 kyat (about US$21). Fighting…
In Sagaing Division, this year’s Chin National Day is set to happen in Khampat, located in Tamu district. Liang Thawng, the secretary of Kalay Town’s Chin Literature and Culture committee and the main organizer said celebrations are rotated each year to allow the different Chin communities in Sagaing Division the chance to host the annual event. “The 69th Chin National Day was commemorated in Kalay. The 70th Chin National Day was celebrated in the town of Tamu and the following year it was back in Kalay. Now we’re going to commemorate the 72nd Chin National Day in Khampat.” Sagaing Division…
Thousands of students protested the death of a university student in Sagaing Region today, demanding action against staff of the hospital where the deceased was a patient. Protestors said the Kalay public hospital failed to provide adequate services for Tg Dal Mun Mang after he was admitted to the emergency ward following a motorcycle accident. Student leader, Wah Baik Hlaing Mo (aka Wai Naing Oo), told Khonumthung News, Tg Dal Mun Mang was ignored by doctors and nurses for nine hours before dying last week. “We are demanding for the government take action against the doctors and nurses under the…
COTABATO CITY — On February 7, 2020, the 5th Annual Commemoration of the Peace Day in Mindanao was held with the theme of “Day of Peace: Cotabato City Supports the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) – Youth of Cotabato City Allied for Peace and Progress.” About 5,000 participants filled the Cotabato City Plaza to celebrate the “Peace Day in Mindanao” originally designated on January 24th in 2014. Local government officials, youth leaders, religious leaders, teachers and students from secondary schools and higher education institutions gathered to collectively work for the creation and development of sustainable peace through…
An unidentified armed group that robbed two villages in southern Chin State returned the money by the following day. Salai Aung Min, of Paletwa township’s education department, told Khonumthung News, the village headmen informed him the money had been returned. “They called the villagers to pick up the money,” Salai Aung Min said. The armed group stole 2 million kyat (about US$1,380) near Maung-Nama on February 5. The cash was to pay salaries for teachers in Sapyin and Taron-ai village. It was given back by 2 pm the following day. Police officers from Paletwa township said the armed group also…
Youth in Hakha, capital of Chin State, are opposing a shopping mall the government wants to build at the location of their football ground. “I think the shopping mall should be built in another place instead of on the football ground,” Salai Van Cing Thang, chairperson for the Chin Youth Organization (Hakha), told Khonumthung News. The youth leader said there are many other areas around Hakha where there’s free land. The government wants to build the mall on Ralmong football ground in Myo Thit ward. Salai Van Cing Thang told Khonumthung News they aren’t against building the shopping centre but…
Members of the Chin National Front (CNF) said they will boycott the 72nd Chin National Day in Thangtlang town after the government denied the ceasefire group’s request to deliver a speech during the commemoration. Pu Ralnin, an officer for the CNF liaison office in Thangtlang, said his organization doesn’t ask to speak every year. The Chin National Day has only been possible following the success of the peace process between the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and the government, he said. “The government and EAOs are working together and moving forward during the peace process. We need to show our cooperation…