2006 KNG News
Up one levelAll News that covered the year 2006.
Ninety Chin refugees to face Malaysian court
6 August 2006: Rounded up as illegal immigrants, over 86 Chin refugees will be produced before a Malaysian court early next week.
Foot and Mouth disease kills Mithuns in Chin state
7 August 2006: The foot and mouth disease has assumed alarming proportions killing about 100 Mithuns in southern Chin state since July.
Fees for animal slaughter source of harassment for people
8 August 2006: A butcher’s license auctioned to individuals is a source of annoyance and harassment to the people of Chin state, as license holders tend to charge a premium as service fees or extortive fines for granting permission to slaughter animals.
More taxes levied on Indo-Burma border trade road
10 August 2006: Fresh taxes have been levied on traders and travelers to Mizoram this monsoon by the Burmese authorities.
Land confiscation continues for Jathropas plantation
12 August 2006: In an all out bid to transform Chin state to a bio-gas producing state, the military junta continues to confiscate farmland to convert it to jathropas plantations.
Military officials need permission to go to capital
15 August 2006: Orders have been issued to military officials of North Western Burma to obtain permission if they want to travel to the Capital.
Tahan market reduced to ashes
15 August 2006: The main market in Tahan town was reduced to ashes in a mysterious fire last night.
Seizure of fertilizer may affect Chin farmers
16 August 2006: The seizure of fertilizer on the Indo-Burma border may serioausly affect Chin farmers.
Mosque to be constructed in Tedim
17 August 2006: Information on secret preparations to construct a mosque in Tedim town, Chin state, Burma which has been underway since 2005 were leaked recently, causing consternation among the people of the township.
Private vehicle commandeered for police use
18 August 2006: The high handedness of the police department in Chin State Burma is reflected in the manner in which it commandeered a private vehicle for fitting the department’s radio transmitter in early August.
Burglary attempt on Chin refugee home in Malaysia
19 August 2006: Five burglars attempted to burgle a Chin refugee’s residence in Malaysia last week.
Genuine cards at premium prices
4 August 2006: Arbitrary fees are being charged for family members’ registration and identity cards by government officials over the past three months.
Underage orphans lured and recruited as soldiers
5 August 2006: In contravention of international law and pressure, child soldiers were recruited from an orphanage in Chin state in the first week of July.
Rise in gambling in Indian border area
28 August 2006: Gambling is on the rise in India’s Mizoram state on the Indo-Burma border. Lottery is becoming increasingly popular and the number of gamblers has gone up, especially from the Burmese weavers’ community.
Fifty households to be evicted for monastery expansion
29 August 2006: In yet another instance of brute oppression, the military junta is set to deprive 50 households of their land for the expansion of a monastery in the northwest capital of Chin State in Myanmar.
Villagers forced to search for lost Army gun
30 August 2006: The Burmese Army which lost a gun in northwest Myanmar, Chin state in July, has ordered villagers to search for it.
Regsitration for 900 and UNHCR cards for 700 Chins
31 August 2006: Among Chin refugees settled illegally in Camaron Highland (CHL), about 30 miles from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 900 have got registration and 700 the UNHCR card.
Self-decision making training for women concluded
31 August 2006: The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) concluded ‘a self-decision making’ training programmed for women today that focuses on gender balance and will help in Chin women playing a leading role in society and politics.
Manipur militants clash with Burmese soldiers; two die
1 September 2006: Two militants were killed and three including a Major of the Burmese Army were injured in a gun battle between Manipur militants and Burmese soldiers in the northern region of Chin state in Burma.
SPDC trains over 200 Chin people
12 September 2006: The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has opened an army training centre for the people in Myanmar, southern Chin state Matupi, and are now training over 200 villagers of the ages between 35 to 45 from 10 villages.
Chin people flee to India for fear of army training
13 September 2006: Older people are fleeing to Mizoram, India to escape army training for the public to be held from September 20.
Indo–Burma border trade in Mizoram at a standstill
18 September 2006: Traders whose business depends on border trade are in a spot following a standstill in Indo – Burma border trading.
Membership of Burmese welfare association rises
18 September 2006: More and more Burmese are joining the Burmese Social Welfare Association which was set up to solve social problems faced by the Burmese living in Mizoram, India.
Forced to recite prayers 15 students leave hostel
19 September 2006: Forced to recite Buddhist prayers, 15 students left the military run hostel in Chin state, Burma.
Market reduced to ashes in Burma
23 September 2006: A devastating fire broke out and razed several shops in ‘Letpanchuang’ market in Sagaing Division in Burma. on September 17.
Mizoram police arrest 30 illegal Burmese migrants
25 September 2006: In an operation launched last week, over 30 illegal Burmese migrant workers were arrested by the police from Lunglei town, the second capital of Mizoram state, India.
AIDS awareness campaign for Burmese in Mizoram
27 September 2006: Samaritan, a non government organization dedicated to control the spread of AIDS in Mizoram state, India, launched an AIDS awareness campaign which included blood tests free of charge for Burmese refugees on the Indo-Burma border.
Burmese migrants released: fresh operation to resume
27 September 2006: Illegal Burmese migrants arrested last week were released by the Mizoram police allegedly after accepting bribes in Lunglei town, second capital of Mizoram state, India.
Burmese police extort money from cow smuggler
30 September 2006: The Myanmar police made a killing, extorting as much as kyat 28 lakhs from a cattle smuggler trying to bring a herd of cows to India.
Trade impasse on Indo–Burma border
2 October 2006: Goods from mainland Burma being imported to India has been held up at Rid town, the newly promoted town on the Indo-Burma border following a halt in border trade.
Mizo youth unhappy on Chin civil society groups
3 October 2006: The Young Mizo Association (YMA) yesterday accused the Chin Student’s Union of North America (CSUNA) and Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) of trying to demean the YMA following the operation by the Mizoram police against illegal Burmese migrants in Lunglei town, the second capital of Mizoram state in India.
Military engages villagers to construct bunkers
6 October 2006: Villagers from Chin state, Burma were conscripted by the Burmese Army in the first week of September to construct bunkers encircling military camps on the Indo – Burma border area.
Low level talks between Indian and Burma Army on border
6 October 2006 : Low level talks between the Indian and Burmese Army were held for the third time in Chapi village, Saiha district of Mizoram state in India on September 25.
Military making a fast buck from bamboo in Chin state
7th October 2006: Eager to make quick money from any conceivable source, military authorities from Paletwa township, Chin State, Myanmar are forcing villagers to fell bamboo in 16 tracts in the villages for profit. It is mandatory for each family to shear 15 pieces of bamboo.
Villagers conscripted to transport military supplies
10 Ocotober 2006: Burmese soldiers patrolling the Indo–Burma border are engaging villagers from southern part of Chin state in Burma to carry army supplies.
Curfew imposed on road to Mizoram
10 October 2006: With curfew imposed on the road from Paletwa, Chin state, Burma to Mizoram, India, business men and local people are in a spot. The Burmese Army brought the route under curfew to search for two army deserters.
Foreigners will be registered: Mizoram CM
11 October 2006: The Chief Minister of Mizoram has said the government will register all illegally settled foreigners from Bangladesh and Burma in the state.
Songs of Chin singers now popular in Mizoram
12 October 2006: A band called YZTP (Yangon Zofate Insuihkhawm Thalai Pawl) video music is now very popular in Mizoram, a director of a private television broadcasting station in the state said.
Shop owners in Tahan market to pay Kyat 3 lakhs each
12 October 2006: Myanmar authorities have directed owners of the Tahan Market, Kalemyo, Sangai Division to pay Kyat 3 lakhs for the reconstruction of each store in the new market being built in place of the burnt one.
Prison term extended for 52-year old woman
12 October 2006: The Kalemyo, Sagaing division authorities have extended by three months the period of detention of a 52 year old woman whose son committed a theft and ran away.
Three policemen arrested for corruption, two to be transferred
13 October 2006: Three policemen were arrested for corruption, and two are expected to be transferred by the authorities of Kalemyo, Sagaing division, Burma.
People demand armed burglar be handed over to Myanmar
14, October 2006: Angry members of a women’s association in Champhai, Mizoram state near the Indo-Myanmar border have urged state authorities to hand over a citizen of Myanmar, who wounded a local woman with a knife, to the Myanmar government.
VPDC chairman arrested in bank robbery case
14 October 2006: A Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman was arrested on charges of robbing a bank by the authorities in Falam Town, Chin State, Myanmar in the first week of this month.
Chin migrants forced to sell homes cheap
16 October 2006: The price of houses is tumbling to half in Chin State, Myanmar because more and more people are migrating to other countries as of this year.
Thousand acres of land may be confiscated for road construction
17 October 2006: Thousands of acres of land belonging to the people may be confiscated for a new highway, a project of the authorities from Kalemyo, Sagaing division.
Chin singers quietly drop anchor in Aizawl
18 October 2006: Chin singers of the Yangon Zofa Thalai Pawl (YZTP) band arrived in Aizawl quietly from Myanmar to entertain the people of this northeastern state of India.
Rice price goes up to Kyat. 20,000 due to road damage
18 October 2006: The price of rice has skyrocketed to Kyat. 20,000 in Hakha and Than Tlang, northern Chin state as of last August.
Malaysian authorities arrest 500 Chin refugees
20 October 2006: Malaysian authorities have arrested and imprisoned around 500 Chin refugees including seven women.
Chin rebels welcome US move on Chin refugees
21 October 2006: The Chin National Front (CNF) on Friday welcomed the recent move by the United States’ to remove legal barriers imposed on Chin refugees applying for political asylum.
Military commander arrives in Indo – Burma border, curfew imposed
24 October 2006, Brigadier Colonel Myint Shwe, Tactical Operation Commander, stationed in Kalaymyo town arrived in Dar Khai (B) village in Tonzang town of Chin state, Burma yesterday.
People face water shortage in Chin state
26 October 2006 : Despite paying water bills regularly people in rural areas of Falam town in Chin state, Burma have been recently facing water shortage.
Burmese military reopens Indo–Burma border road
26 October 2006: Burmese military authorities have reopened the Indo– Burma border road linking Paletwa town in Chin state Burma to Mizoram state in India. The road was closed for over two weeks.
Burmese in custody for smuggling US dollars to Mizoram
31 October 2006: A Burmese migrant, Thlabik who was arrested in possession of US $ 330,400 by Mizoram custom officials during the weekend, is now in custody. The Burmese was trying to smuggle the dollars into Mizoram.
Price of Burmese currency drops in Indo-Burma border
4 November 2006: The price of Burmese currency has dropped in the Indo-Burma border after Mizoram customs officials seized over US $ 3 Lakhs in Mizoram state, India last week.
Hollywood star visit refugees in capital of India
5 November 2006: Angelina Jolie, “tomb raider” star, and her 5 years old son “Maddox” made a surprise visit and met Burmese refugees in Delhi, capital of India, yesterday.
Government employees forced to pay for Tazaungdaing festival
6 November 2006: The three-day Buddhism festival “Tazaungdaing” celebrated in Christian dominated Matupi town in Chin state, Burma was concluded yesterday amidst dissatisfaction among government employees who were forced to pay for the celebrations.
TPDC authorities raise funds in Falam, Chin state
11 November 2006: Burmese authorities raise funds from the people whenever they want to. When it comes to collecting money no specific reason is ascribed. An official of the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) from Chin state in Burma has been reportedly collecting money from villagers for a general fund.
Villagers to relocate within deadline
13 November 2006 : The military regime has ordered several villagers from Chin state in Burma to meet the deadline for relocating to a new site.
Public fleeced for fencing army camps on Indo–Burma border
15 November 2006: In Burma even funds for the army’s routine expenditure needs to come out of people’s pocket. In order to renovate fences around army camps on the Indo–Burma border area, Burmese soldiers have been collecting money from villagers in Chin state.
More camps and soldiers following attack on Burma Army
18 November 2006: A surprise attack by an Arakan armed group on a military outpost on the Indo-Burma border has goaded the Burmese Army to go on an overdrive. The military is now gearing up to expand its existing force and army camps in the region.
Two Chins killed in accident in Mizoram
20 November 2006: Two Chin migrants were killed in a truck accident around 1 a.m. yesterday in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram.
Arakan underground and SPDC block border Road
21 November 2006: The SPDC and underground Arakanese have blocked the road connecting Paletwa Chin state to India’s border.
Burmese owned gold shops increase in Mizoram
21 November 2006: The number of gold shops owned by the Burmese on the Indo-Burma border town of Aizawl, Mizoram has increased.
Arakan Rebel destroys SPDC army camp
22 November 2006: In a surprise attack the Arakan Liberation Party’s (ALP) armed wing opened fire and burnt down an army camp of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) located on the Indo-Mayanmar border on October 22, 2006.
Junta orders closure and destruction of orphan school
22 November 2006: Thirty orphans are out on the streets after Myanmar authorities ordered the closure of a school for orphans – the Church of Jesus Christ in new block Hakha, Chin state.
Chin rebel arrested by Indian Army
23 November 2006: The Indian Army’s Battalion No. 41 arrested a member of the Kumi Patriotic Army (KPA) in Mizoram on November 14, 2006.
Chin health team to reach out to needy
23 November 2006: A Chin health team operating from the border said yesterday that they will initiate a programme to reach out to people in Chin state to prevent diseases. They will also supply medicines to the needy.
Government employees to plant Jetropha
25 November 2006: Government employees in Chin state Myanmar have been ordered to plant Jetropha in allotted areas. Labour wages for working in the plantations will range between Kyat 2000 to 3000.
Let Pan Chaung market to be completed by February
27 November 2006: The reconstructed main market of Let Pan Chaung which was destroyed by a devastating fire will be completed by February 2007.
Journey to homeland for Christmas
1 December 2006: Burmese migrants working in Mizoram, India are trooping back home to celebrate Christmas. Keen on joining their families in Burma for X-mas celebrations the migrants are in a joyous mood.
Chin youths being forced to serve army
8 December 2006: Young people in Chin state, Burma are being arrested by the military authorities to be recruited as soldiers since November.
Chin asylum seeker detained in India
9 December 2006: A Chin asylum seeker Than Mang was arrested and detained in Tihar Jail in New Delhi by the Indian police when he went on a hunger strike in front of the UNHCR office.
First Kuki national seminar concluded on Indo-Burma
9 December 2006: The three-day Kuki ethnic national seminar on reconciliation held in Moreh near on the Indo–Burma border was successfully concluded on December 2.
People forced to pay for volleyball competition
11 December 2006: People in Matupi Township, Chin State, Burma were forced to contribute money for a volleyball competition organized by the Tactical Commander.
Human rights award for Chin Refugee Committee
11 December 2006: A Malaysian non-government organization has honoured the Chin Refugee Committee (CRC) in Malaysia with the Suaram Human Rights award on December 8.
Training in traditional midwifery for women
12 December 2006: Traditional training in midwifery including handling pregnancy and pre natal care for Chin Women was held in Aizawl near the Indo-Myanmar border.
Second annual Chinlon competition in Mizoram
13 December 2006: The second annual winter competition of Chinlon (cane ball) was held in Aizawl, Mizoram, on the Indo-Myanmar border. It was organized by the Burmese Social Welfare Association (BSWA).
Weavers forced to bring down rates in Mizoram
13 December 2006: Weavers from Myanmar working in Aizawl, Indo-Myanmar border have had to reduce their rates. There are hundreds of weavers from Myanmar in Aizawl.
SPDC’s administrative training in Chin state
14 December 2006: In keeping with the move to change the administrative set up in Burma, the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) authorities in Chin State began imparting training to the second batch of village heads.
Visitors from India crowd Rih Lake in Burma
15 December 2006: The ‘Rih’ Lake in Chin State of Burma has been attracting lots of visitors this season. Some villagers and students from Aizawl, capital of Mizoram state, India, visit the lake as part of a study tour with their teachers.
Burmese worker wins lottery
17 December 2006: For the first time a Burmese migrant worker n Aizawl, Mizoram on the Indo-Myanmar border has won the annual lucky ticket prize.
Chin Christian youths donate blood in Mizoram
19 December 2006: For the first time, Chin Christian youths donated blood for the needy in the Church of Chin Baptists in Aizawl city, near the Indo-Myanmar border yesterday.
Increase in malaria in Southern Chin State
22 December 2006: The incidence of malaria among local villagers of Paletwa, Southern Chin State has gone up.
