The peace process will be successful if there’s a democratic policy all the armed forces follow under a civilian-led government, said a Chin National Front leader during the 72nd Chin National Day in Thantlang township. “According to article 7 of the Panglong Agreement, our Union must create a democracy but until today, we still don’t have it. To implement it, we have agreed to the NCA (nationwide ceasefire agreement) and to build a Union based on democracy and federalism,” Dr Lian H. Sakhong, CNF vice chairman-2, said in his opening speech. This is something State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi…
Author: Editor
A fourteen-year-old was injured from shrapnel after a shell landed in his village in southern Chin State in an area that has seen heavy fighting between the Myanmar Army and Arakan Army in recent weeks. Maw Kyaw Htay Oo is in critical condition in Paletwa public hospital where he’s being treated for head injuries. A local told Khonumthung News the sixth-grader from Ouk Mee Let-wa is unable to speak. Maw Kyaw Htay Oo’s family is poor and will need help covering his medical bill, the local said. No-one else was injured when the shell exploded in the village around 8…
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…
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…