Zogam ah Zusa kialpi huhna ding ngimna in Chin Human Right Organization(CHRO)te makaihna tawhThailand, Malaysia, le Singapore cihte ah Zomi (Chin)Lasa siamte tawh sumbul zonna kinei hi. Tua lasate sung pan Sangpi, Zamnu, Sung Tin Par leh Sanggam Mizote zong kihel uh hi. Tua te sungah Sangpi pen CHRO makai (Chin)lamte in paulap tuamtuam zongin deih nawn lo uh a, a mau Hakha lam teng bek sung pan hong kituam teel zel uh hi.Sangpi zongin a thusim uh tel ahih manin, ut nawn het lo mah ci hi. Tua khit a sawt lo tukum sung mahin Europe sunga hi Germany, Denmark, UK leh Norwayte ah kinei leuleu a, lasa dingte pen a kikup cil lai un,Zomi(Tedim) sung pan Thawn Kham zong kihel ding ci na pi uh, a hun ciangin, Sung Tin Par, Nianghniang, Solomon,leh Hakha lamte pasal khat hong hi lel zel hi. Europe sung Chin Community makaite sung pan ei Tedim mi khat bang kihelsam hih tuak sam hi ven, Sazukki puak makai leh molhtum a kizang makai pawl mah hi lo dia.,,, kua mah lutsak zo tuan sam lo hih tuak.
Hih tawh kisai in sanggampa Zamungte,Khaiboite leh Sia Eddie Gin Hangte gen sa mah bangin, Zomi min i hanciam mahmah laitak in sanggam Hakha lamte in Chin mah tawh hong langdo denden uh ahih lam kimu hi. Hun sawtpi a kipan a hithei phalo i hihna kitel semsem hi. Hih CHRO i cihte pen a taktak in ci leng CNF te tawh kisimzop mahmah te hi in,, a kipawlsiam man un Chin/ Zomi sungah Human Rigth lam nasem siam mahmah danin, INGO lianpipite in mu kha mawkmawk uh hi. A taktka in Zomite in i mudah mahmah ahi CNF te a huh huhte ahi uh hi. Hih Chin Famine Concert vai sumzonna tawh kisai ah a sum ngahte uh Zusa kial thuakte kiang sangin CNF te kiang lamah a tam zaw tung den cih thuman kiza hi.
Tua hi in, i minam min man taktak ahi ZOMI mah thupisak in, Zomi sungah kipumkhat mahmah sawm ding hunta hi. I Sanggam Hakha lamte bangin Zomi Human Rigth Organization / Foundation cihte bang neih zawh ding kisam ta hi. I neih zawhloh manin, i lawmte nasepte kisem thei lo bek tham loin, a dinmun uh kipha lo ahi hi. Minam min thu ah kician mello in mindeihna bek tawh CHIN/ ZOMI cih zong khen se loin, Baak bangin kawi taitai kei ni. Kipawlna khat peuh i neih leh Zomi mah zumpih ngam, thuakpih ngam ni. Chin min tawh kipawlna khat peuhah min deihna lel tawh makai lam ah hong kikoih hangin, mite molhtum hi lel hi hang cihte phawk hun mahmah ta hi. EU sung ahi a, Asia sung a hi zongin, Chin leh Zomi koi zawah na pansawm hiam? Zomi nam min seel ahi ZNC party pen Official political party ahih lam zong thei huai mahmah hi.
Sanggam Haka lamte in zong Chin pen i minam min man taktak hi ci ngam tuan het lo uh hi. Kawlgam kumpite leh leitung gam tuamtuam ah CHIn bek tawh hong kithei hi cih lel pen hamphatna ngahna ding khat lel a, Chin a kicici uh ahi hi. Zomi min hong kikipsakna a om nai het kei leh zong , hong kitheihna ding le hong kikipsakna dingin i hanciam semsem kisam lai lo diam? Chin min pua kipawlna te leh a diakdiak in Hakha lamte kipawlna Chin sung ah makai leh member zongin i kihel khak nawn loh ding pilvang ta ni. Chin kipawlnate sungah makai khat in hong kikoihna pen Molhtum a hong kizatnop man leh min i deih man hi lel ding hi. Chin tawh i hamphatna ding leh i suahtakna ding bang mah om tuan lo ding hi.
Ei le ei kipumkhat sawm in, i minamte ading ZOMI min tawisang in, daipih, sumlawh ngam le hangin, Zomi leh Zogam sunni bang tang taktak ding hi hang. Z- Zomite hanlungciam khangto diam…..Tua hi in America lamah Chin Famine Concert a kineih sawm leh Zomi sung pan Lasa siamte a kihel theih kei lailai leh ngaihsut huia mahmah ta hi lo hiam a ci i hi hi. CHRO makaite sungah Zomi khat bek i kihel hiam cihte zong theih huai mahmah hi. Chin maw Zomi Koi zaw telzaw ding…..
26 October, 2009: The first in a series of Chin Food Aid Concerts scheduled in the US was held last Saturday with more than 1200 supporters in Dallas, the 8th largest city in the United States.
“We printed a total of 1200 tickets and they were sold out,” said Kevin Thang, of Chin Youth Organisation, an organising body for Chin Food Aid Concert in Dallas. The concert hall with 1200 seats arranged was filled up with more people standing at the rear.
The much-awaited concert was heated up by Burma’s famous Chin singer Sung Tin Par, first prize winner of Burma’s nationwide traditional singing competition Dawt Hlei Hniang, Chin rocker Solomon Menrihai, and Switzerland-based former ABC music band leader Salai Tawna, a Ph.D holder in Ethnomusicology. Chin youth singer based in Dallas, Ngun Thawng Chin, also appeared as a backing vocalist in the concert.
Amused and satisfied with the entertainment, one of the audience who came from Houston for the concert, commented: “We had been so excited about the concert and when we actually saw it, it went far greater than we expected. Yes, properly arranged and well-performed, I am so happy and pleased with the concert.”
When asked for his views on the concert, well-known Chin musician, composer, singer and guitarist Salai Tawna told Chinland Guardian: “The relationship between the singers and audience went so well and the timing was just perfect and harmonious. We, the singers, enjoyed very much and I believed the audience did enjoy the concert satisfactorily and meaningfully, too.”
The concert commenced with an opening speech on why the concert has been organised and Chin food crisis by Salai Bawi Lian Mang, which was followed by Salai Tawna’s amazing performance of Chin traditional songs and music played with mythan horns, typical Chin musical instruments commonly used in Mindat area.
Some of his traditional verses read: Go tell our brethren in the native land
Who are suffering from this mautam
That the young generation of Chinland
Works hard in all corners of the world
To rescue you with their helping hand
Three Chin churches based in Dallas invited the singers on Sunday to their worship services where the quartette sang Christian songs to the congregation filling up the churches.
All proceeds gained from the concert will go towards helping the Chin victims of ongoing mautam food crisis in Burma’s Chin State.
The Dallas concert held on 22 October was organised by Chin Youth Organisation in partnership with Dallas-based three Chin churches, namely Dallas Chin Baptist Church, Chin Evangelical Baptist Church and Chin Revival Church.
A series of Chin Food Aid Concerts in the US with the first being recently held in Dallas is scheduled to take place on 31 October in Battle Creek, on 7 November in San Francisco, on November 14 in Los Angeles, on 20-21 November in Indianapolis and on November 27 in Washington DC.
MYANMAR (formerly Burma) - For many residents of Western Myanmar, the decision was clear: let the children eat first.
Ripe harvests had been devoured by plagues of rats, causing a famine known as Mautam that occurs about every 50 years.
“When the rats suddenly flooded our land, we had to fight for our survival,” said one villager. “We had to scavenge for any food we could find. At times, we even ate the rats that had eaten our crops just to survive.”
For those families who couldn’t find food, children were given preference to eat first.
“As parents, we let our children eat what they needed first while we fasted from at least one meal a day,” said a father of six children.
To help meet the immediate needs of these desperate families, Operation Blessing sent relief teams to the affected areas.
After 3 days of travel and battling monsoon rains, landslides and broken bridges, teams arrived and were able to distribute over 32,000 pounds of rice to 927 hungry yet grateful villagers.
“I am amazed at their faith in God,” said relief team leader Cheich Maung. “Despite their dire situation, they could still rejoice, and never uttered words of complaint. They faithfully believed that God would send them the help they needed.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI’s disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery.
October 22, 2009, Washington DC – Dallas, USA: A celebrated top vocalist Ms. Sung Tin Par, talented sweet-voiced Ms. Dawt Hlei Hniang - First Price winner of National Televised Singing Competition in Burma - and Chin unique Rocker Mang Tin Sawn @Solomon
have just arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport today to entertain Chin and Burmese community in USA. Salai Tawna – Ph.D, former ABC Music band leader and musicologist from Switzerland and Mimi Lalzamliani, one of the top singers from Mizoram State of India will join the show at a series of Chin Food Aid Concerts in the US cities.
Background: Since 2007, Chin people in Chin State have been facing severe food crisis, caused by drought and rodent infestations, locally called Mautam, a once-in-fifty-year phenomenon in which bamboo flowers, bears fruits and dies consequently. The rats feed on the fruits of the flowering bamboo and multiply rapidly, which is followed by an influx of rats that destroy crops, fields and food storages, causing famine-like situation in the region. About 100,000 people have been immediately affected by the ongoing crisis exacerbated by rainy season difficulties in accessing the remote areas of the region. As part Global Campaign against Starvation in Chin State, International awareness and fund raising concerts have been organized in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Europe since last year. Once again the top Artists from Burma and India are taking a voluntary action for a two-month-long concert tour in USA to raise awareness and fund for the victims of the food crisis. All proceeds will directly benefit those affected by this famine-like phenomenon. We request all the sympathizers around the US to kindly continue to shower your love towards these suffering people through our efforts by means of coming to join with us at one of the concerts scheduled below: Venue, date and contact:
Dallas, Texas: October 24 (Sat) Mr. Kevin Thang (469-463-5343) Battle Creek, Michigan: October 31 (Sat) Salai Cung Sang (269-832-2031) San Francisco, California: November 7 (Sat) Salai Tluang Vel Lian(510-437-0607) Los Angeles, California: November 14 (Sat) Dr. Salai Lawma (626-232-9293) Indianapolis, Indiana: November 20-21 (Fri-Sat) Salai Van Ceu Uk (317-697-9455) Washington, DC: November 27 (Friday) Salai Tuk Tuk (443-995-9804) Should you have any questions concerning the campaign, please contact our media contacts and Event Coordinators: Salai Bawi Lian Mang Salai Elaisa Vahnie Tel: 510-332-0983(cell); Tel: 812-929-7193(cell); Email: bawilian@chro.caThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Email: velaisa@umail.iu.eduThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Victor Biak Lian (Asia) Tel:613-796-9514; Email: vblian@chro.caThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
CHIANG MAI - A spreading plague of rats has devoured crops in western Myanmar, giving rise to a famine that threatens hundreds of thousands in the country’s remote ChinState. The lack of government assistance has driven a mounting number of people across the border into neighboring India and other countries, representing the latest human crisis to emanate from Myanmar’s borders.
According to a recent report issued by the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), at least 54 people have died from the effects of severe malnutrition. The rights group said in September that “no less than 100,000 people [20% of the Chin population] are in need of immediate food aid”. Those numbers are expected to rise as rice stockpiles are exhausted and the cold season aggravates health problems related to malnutrition.
Transportation of aid into remote areas of ChinState is nearly impossible in the rainy season, and, to compound the crisis, farmers are facing a drastically low harvest in October-November. Rather than face starvation, thousands are migrating to neighboring countries, especially India, in search of food and employment.
Some have traveled for days to the Indian border to buy sacks of rice at subsidized prices and its unclear how many are staying in the border region rather than return to famine conditions at home. Sai Nai, a 70-year-old widow, currently lives alone because her children have left for India to find work.
“When we entered her house she hid what she was eating because she was ashamed,” a CHRO consultant said. “In order to survive she had to sell her dog in exchange for some rice. She told us she has only one bucket of rice remaining for the rest of this year.”
Myanmar’s ruling junta continues to disallow international aid organizations from operating in the ethnically diverse region. Many aid groups have requested and been denied access to the area to help offset the impact of a plague of forest rats that has torn through the Chin State’s highlands for the past two years, destroying according to some estimates between 75% and 82% of the area’s crops. This year’s harvest, due in November, is expected to be even lower than the previous two years, according to people monitoring the situation.
The catalyst for the rat infestation is an ecological phenomenon known locally as mautam, which translates loosely into English as “bamboo death”. The phenomenon occurs approximately once every 50 years with the flowering of the melocanna baccifera bamboo species, whose nutritious fruit attracts and increases the fertility of rats.
After the fruit blossomed, an exponentially expanded population of rats was forced to forage elsewhere for food, ravaging rice, maize and sesame crops in the area. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) reported in March that the rat infestation had spread to the outskirts of the main town in ChinState, Hakha, where the rats had invaded tea plantations and tamarind orchards.
“I have never seen such a huge number of rats,” a farmer from MatupiTownship said. “I had thought we could easily drive out the rats and protect our crops. Just before the rice was ready to be harvested, the rats came and ate all the rice in the fields in just one night. We lost all our rice.”
The rat infestation was predictable - or at least, it should have been. British colonialists recorded in the mid-19th century that the flowering of the bamboo fruit set off a deadly domino effect every 48 years. The last cycle, in 1958-9, led to the deaths of between 10,000 and 15,000 people in ChinState and the neighboring Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur, which are currently 30% covered in bamboo forest.
The Indian government put in place prevention plans as early as 2000, when it convened an emergency meeting of the National Planning Commission in anticipation of the impending crisis. The Mizoram state government then initiated a “Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme” in 2004 with the help of the central government.
In the Manipur town of Churanchandpur, Indian government troops took time off in May 2006 from battling separatist rebels to hunt rats. Education programs on pest control were organized and community farms were set up to grow aromatic spices such as turmeric and ginger, which are ignored by the rats and are valuable as a cash crop. In neighboring Mizoram, an alternative crop of potatoes was planned and rat poison was distributed. The local authorities in both states initiated a rat-culling incentive program, offering 2 rupees (5 US cents) per rat’s tail submitted to their offices.
Entrenched negligence
In comparison, in military-ruled Myanmar no official precautions were taken against the imminent bamboo death. ChinState, already considered by humanitarian agencies to be one of the most poverty-stricken areas of the country, has been caught completely unprepared.
The flowering of the bamboo fruit started in late 2006, predictably 48 years after its last cycle. Within 12 months the rat infestation was endemic and now the risk of a catastrophic famine is rising. Chin farmers defended themselves with only limited resources by laying traps, building protective fences and cutting the bamboo fruit and feeding it to pigs.
Families with cats were sometimes able to keep the rats away from their sleeping areas. But the farmers were reluctant to use rat poison because they quickly realized that without other sources of food they would likely have to eat the ratsto survive. In one village in ThantlangTownship near the Indian border, some 55,000 rats were reportedly trapped and killed in 2008.
Other farmers, however, were unable to camp out in their fields because they could not construct shelters because of the shortage of bamboo - which Chin villagers traditionally use to build makeshift huts - after the rats had destroyed the plants in the area. Many walk to their fields every evening with their families in tow carrying catapults and pots and spoons to their fields to create noise and try to kill the rats.
By this year, overwhelmed by the huge rat population, thousands of farmers gave up and migrated closer to border areas where food could be purchased. Because it is such a social taboo for Chin people to abandon their village and their community - “a disgrace”, says one Chin expert - many left secretly in the middle of the night.
At least 4,000 Chin headed to Saiha, the largest town in Mizoram. Most have had to take menial jobs - carrying wood, working in rice fields or quarries, road construction, and other labor-intensive work that pays as little as 70 to 100 rupees ($1.50- $2.10) per day. Thousands more have left their homes to scavenge for food elsewhere in Myanmar - in areas where the plague of rats has not yet ravaged the crops.
In response, WFP and their local implementing partners have initiated a “Food for Work” program in ChinState, which, in some townships, has been expanded into a “Food plus Cash for Work” program, mainly based on road construction and land development schemes.
WFP, along with United Nations Development Program and a handful of other Yangon-based agencies, is permitted by the military junta to operate in the Chin region. Although initially dismissive of the CHRO findings, the WFP has now confirmed the reports of malnourishment in Chin State, estimating that 70,000 people in seven townships (Tonzang, Tiddim, Htanlang, Madupi, Paletwa, Falam, Hakha) have been “severely affected” by rat infestation.
As of July, cross-border aid from India has been strictly banned and the delivery of relief is often carried out clandestinely, including by Christian relief agencies. Only aid groups that play by the junta’s rules, including the WFP and UNDP, are officially allowed to work in Chin state. “However, the rations each family received from the cross-border relief teams were only enough for one week or two,” said CHRO program officer Za Uk.
Despite the WFP’s efforts and the work of some government-approved agencies from Yangon, it is noteworthy that villagers generally choose to walk to the Indian border in search of assistance rather than toward central Myanmar. “The people vote with their feet,” said an international aid worker with 20 years’ experience in the region.
The crisis is having a mounting social impact. Enrollment rates at schools in the region are reportedly down 50% to 60%, as children are forced to help their parents forage for food - wild yam roots, edible leaves, shoots and tree bark - as their annual rice stocks run out. Some villagers have said that they fear reprisals if they speak out about the deteriorating situation, which, as with its initial handling of last year’s Cyclone Nargis disaster, would highlight the government’s poor crisis management.
“The situation has been made more acute by the ruling military regime’s utter neglect of the suffering, compounded by policies and practices of abuse and repression against Chin civilians,” said CHRO in its recent report. “As thousands struggle with hunger, starvation and disease, the SPDC [military government] continues practices of forced labor, extorting excessive amounts of money from villagers, confiscating people’s land and property, in addition to other severe human-rights abuses.”
Apart from those who have taken refuge in India, thousands more have migrated to Thailand and Malaysia where expatriate Chin communities have emerged over the years. With the crisis predicted to last for as long as five years, many wonder whether the emigration will be permanent.
A non-governmental organization consultant active along the India-Myanmar border said earlier this month that the plague of rats is moving northward into areas of Sagaing Division, east of ChinState. The rat infestation generally reaches its zenith five months after the flowering of the bamboo plant. “In some areas the bamboo has just begun bearing fruit now,” he said. “So, the bamboo death will follow soon.”
Kum 1957 a hong hi a,bangziaka, bangchidan a theilawk uh ahi diam ah: Nupi-Papite’n ‘Singlam-Tuilam, Zumun-Saphual ah mautaam kialpi hong tung ding hi veh aw’ chi’n a houlimna in a nei thei mawk uhi.
Kum 1958 a hong hi a Vaingaitang ah thangnang a tam in a hong tam a, a omna singhiangte khawng a luaitan zou hiai hi. Mau tengteng a tuaikei a, khangnoute lak ah lah lehpau ahong om mawk hi. Huchi in lehpau khawng a kisiamthei mahmah a; Upate’n “Lehpau a hong om chiang in kialpi hong om, hong tung ahi” achi uhi. Kum 1959 ahong hi amau teng si ding in hong om vek ua, ateh leh akung khawng asan senson a, huchi’n a teh lak ah a hong gah a, alak a I va pai a I laileh a gah hong ke tultul hi. Huchi’n loulai khawng a maubulte a hong sel ua, tampi pi in a gah hong pawttou ua, phel nih phel thum asuah ngal ua, huchi’n in leng ahing in dawnthei lai ua, lou nawl khawng, lou lui khawng ah buakkhiak in a om hi. Zusa lah ahong tam mahmahta a, buh omna deuh khawng chi I khoh chiang in a zan in ana kinebei zel hi. I maban khawng ah hong tai ua, I tu khawng in toh lup theih in om uhi. Inn a I buh neihsunte lah atung a gingtheite khai in a khau lupna khuam akhih in, nu-le-pate’n zan a akhanloh chiang un a kai gingging zel na ua, a kihong zou tuankei hi. Songtal khaw Hausa(L)Pumzadal in a khawsung ah thu khat a hon puangkhiaa-‘Zusa man peuhmah in a mei na hong piak ding uh’ achi a, huchi in amei a kikhol a sai-ippi liante dim nih(2) aphak in, phaipi akipan D.C. ahong a akilahleh,”Ka theichian hi, nakhol nawn kei un”achi hi.
Kum 1960 ahong hi a Mau tengteng lah ahong keu vekta a, lou a kinei na a, nna kisemlou mah akibangta hi. Kum 1961 a hong hinawn, Ann nek ding aki nei mahmah kei a: 1. Vung-khawm 2. Pauneikhai 3. Goukhenpau, 4. (L) Chinkhothang, hiaite leh I makai khenkhatte’n I kumpite kiang ah a va gen uhi. Huailai in Phaipi a I kumpi lianpen uh Koireng Singh ahi. Huchi’n I kumpi un”Na lungkham kei un longleeng in antang ahong khe ding hi, hong khiakna mun dingte hiaite ahi-1. Thanlon 2. Chongkhozo 3. Muntha phaijang 5. Hanship 6. Songtal-hiai teng na kiging unla; akhiakna mun ding ah singliante khawng anaphuk un” Ahon chih bang in a kihih a, mun hoih leh mun tam, munzaang deuhdeuh ana kihih hi. Huchi in, antang hawm ding in khiakna mun khua a ding mi khat a hong tung chiat ua, huaite’n ‘Tuni a longleeng in antang hong khe ding ahi in amun ah mei na chih unla, na khusak un’ a hon chi ua. Achih bang ua ka hihkhit un, Hingtal(Silchar) lam I etleh longleeng lianpi hong leng doidoi petmah a, aneu-alian in akidelh vengvung a, alau a kap toh…kipak a kap toh, anuitoh… akikou toh, dahhuai sa a kaptoh amau in a kimau zelzul mai hi. Khatvei thu in ip 30 (sawmthum) honkhia a, khatvei paiin thumvei khiak ding ahon pua hi.
Akhiak khit chiang in, akoihna mun ah kiknawn a, I nawnman kumpite’n antang in hon pia uhi. Antang ip khat sel 30 ahi a, thuah nga in ahon tun uhi. Mun zaang leh muntam akikhesak a hihziak in, kol diapdiap akitun himahleh a tawm vonvon a, gamla pipi atung a, akekbang leng a om a, akeka bote khawng leng akiluak sipsip a, a koihna mun ah ava kikoih hi. Gamlak a tu khawngte leng hahzon in akizong a, I muh peuhpeuh chiang in a koihna mun ah ava kikoih zel hi. Songtalte’n houh Lawm chi in, Hausate khawng vaihawm in, An nekkhawmna a nei ua, a zangta lam zezen ua la bang leng a phuak hiai uhi. Antang tuunna ipte atam lo mahmah a, akideih theilaw na a kuama’n akila ngamkei hi, Sappa’n lah hon pengamkei a, a muatgawp vek hi. Antang nek seng louh a hon pia ua, ahawmtu lah hun abei in apai a, hilehleng ahawm khitlouhte kuama’n akilathang ngamkei hi. Antang mound khat teng sawm leh teng nguk a lei ding achi ua sel sawm lel lei zou leng akitam hetkei hi. Antang leina ding’ chi’n kumpite’n sum ahong hawm ua; mikhat in houh na lak louh ding kumpite’n hon siiknawn khale uh, huai chiang in neikei kha leng’ chi in a lelpi taw a ah akoih hi.
Kum 1963 in Lampute huai sum siik in hong pai ua Lelpi taw a ana koih pa’n ana pekik hi. A kilungkham thei mahmah a khenkhatte’n mi a leitawi in apia ua, khenkhat te’n ‘Ka neikei… n’on lohloh uh hon loh mai un’ chi ua, tuni tan in bangmah a om nawn tuan kei hi. Hiai kial beipah ahihlouh ziak in Antang ahihleh akigai lahkei. Kum 1963 tan in leng Zusa a tam mahmah lai a, amakaite khawng voknou chiachia apha hi. Zusa kiman tamlua ahihziak in aki-em sengkei a, avun aki khohleh tuni tan in zusa vunkhoh akichiing lai hi. Kum l964 tan inleng alomlom in apai lai ua, pialkhang chiachia khawng haichi hi in loupa hileh amai zouhial ding hi. Hiai kialpi a pat in antang lim leh limlou chih ahong om hi.
Hiai kialpi omma in dawl khawng leh kaihthialnah Anntang zuakte’n tin, lohbeu, phaidamloh, pota ngen in teh uhi. Hiai kialpi veng nailou in, 1965 May kha in suahlam ah ziing phalvak aksi meikhutung ahong om a, Upate’n ‘kialpi hong om zel ding hi e’ achi ua, huchi in aziak-asan leng theih zohlouh khop in I kial nilouh ua, kumpite kiang ah I taitai ua, phaipi a I kumpi lianpen uh Rishang Keising ahihtanin I kial ua, aman ‘Nou lamte zaw antang antang chih hi gige’ chi in hon chiamnuih lah hisim, lah adikmah hisim in I om uhi. I MLAte leh I makai tuamtuamte ding a leng zumhuai zezen khop in I om uhi. Zumtheih lah ahimahmah kei a, huaiziak in hichibang hong tungnawn dia gintakna leh theihna I neihuntuh, I PATHIAN ah leng gin-om in, diktatna mahmah toh hiai kial dou ding in theihtawp in pan chihtak in pang ni I hih theihna lamchiat uah…U leh Nau Aw.
05 October 2009: The plight of Chin villagers, who have been since 2007 suffering from food shortages, has deepened due to continuous extortion and forced labour imposed upon them by SPDC military army operating in Chin State, according to FBR (Free Burma Rangers).
Pic: FBR giving medical aid to Chin IDPs
A recent report released in July by an FBR team operating in Paletwa Township of Southern Chin State revealed that villagers have been made to carry army rations and equipment, relay information and letters from soldiers, and prepare army camps and other works.
“The SPDC military regime, far from helping these people who are suffering a food security crisis, demands forced labour without pay and extorts food and money from them,” added the report.
The SPDC Army is said to be supervising construction of a 240km long fence along Bangladesh-Burma-India border. At least four Army Light Infantry Battalions (LIBs), each with some 130 men, are seen operating in this part of Chin State, according to FBR teams.
One of the five letters sent to a village headman by SPDC Army reads: “When you get this letter, you must immediately send three porters to the village where the army column is located.” Another letter, which was collected and photographed by the FBR team, stated the village had to give a donation of 5 hundred kyat and one kg of rice from each house for the ordination of two Buddhist monks.
Documenting human rights abuses by the military authorities, the FBR team was said to have given medical assistance to the Chin IDPs, who have fled into the jungle, treating people, including children, with malaria, pneumonia, anemia and dysentery.
Recently, about 40 villages in Thantlang Township have been ordered to renovate military camps by Vuangtu-based Chief Commander Myo Zaw Win of Military camp LIB 266, Khonumthung News said.
Lailenpi-based SPDC Army is reported to have extorted the fund meant for hospital construction and forced villagers in Matupi Township to do construction work without any wages, sources revealed today.
A report released in January 2009 by HRW (Human Rights Watch) said that there were no army battalions stationed but only two operating in Chin State before 1988 but Chin State now hosts 14 battalions with an average of 400 to 500 soldiers each and 50 army camps.
Since 2007, Chin people have been facing severe food crisis, locally called mautam, caused by a once-in-fifty-year phenomenon in which bamboo flowers, bears fruits and dies consequently, which is followed by an influx of rats that destroy crops, fields and food storages.
The FBR teams were operating in Chin State and Arakan State, where peoples from Chin and Arakan tribes such as Mro, Khumi, Bru, Daingnet, Rakhine and Rohingya live together.
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