The CNF possibly took into consideration the fact that the people in Chin state have been affected by the current famine like food crisis. It has brought down the rate of home tax from Kyat 3,000 to 10 and border pass (Indo-Burma border) from 5 percent to 3 percent, according to a CNF statement issued on February 2.

The taxation has been a controversial issue with the CNF throughout its revolutionary period while dealing with its own people in their homeland. Some people in Chin state disagree with the move of CNF to impose taxes and have urged the CNF to stop collecting home tax and border pass on the ground of Chin state being economically backward.

CNF maintains that collecting home tax and border pass is a means to protect the homeland and its own people.

CNF in its statement highlighted the famine caused by bamboos flowering in area in Chin state. Moreover, CNF also remarked that the present living condition of the people in Chin state, Burma is at its worst level after it got independence from British rule in 1948.

Since last year bamboos along the Indo-Burma border areas have been flowering and it happens once in 50 years when its life term is at its end. It attracts rats which multiply after eating the flowers becoming a threat to farmlands and paddy stocks.

The rats not only destroy paddy fields but also paddy stocks in remote areas of Chin state. Consequently, the paddy production in the areas had fallen sharply last year hitting the people hard in the remote areas. Some had shifted to neighbouring Mizoram state in India.

CNF called for the international community and Chins across the world to provide necessary help to the people in Chin state who are facing shortage of food.  It also condemned the military authorities for failing to help the people.       

In addition to its major objectives such as defense and social assistance services, CNF in its statement also mentioned that capacity building of Chin nationals will be its top priority among its future tasks.

CNF was established in 1988 with the aim of securing the self-determination of the Chin people and to establish a federal Union of Burma based on democracy and freedom.

The first peace talk between CNF and SPDC (Burmese military regime) took place in Rih town in Chin state near Indo-Burma border on March 2007.

The second round of talk was initially agreed to be held on August 2007. Later, it was postponed.  – Khonumthung.