Volume XVIII, Issue I Rhododendron News January-February 2016 Rhododendron News Bimonthly Publication since 1998 Volume Volume XVIII, XVIII, Issue Issue I I January-February January-February 2016 2015 Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) 2-Montavista Avenue, Nepean, K2J 2L3, Canada Ph: 1-613-843-9484 Email: [email protected] Web: www.chro.ca Landslide-affected victims demonstrating in Hakha (Photo: The Chinland Post) Volume XVIII, Issue I Rhododendron News January-February 2016 2 Table of Contents Arbitrary Taxation & Extortion Page 3-5 • Army free seven Chin detainees • ALP extorts money from traders in Paletwa Township • Arakan Army soldiers extort rice, pig from Chin villagers • Two midwives among 35 detained by Arakan Army • Arakan Army soldiers continue extortion in Chin State Humanitarian & Development Situation Page 5-6 • Damages to water supply system leave Matupi residents with acute shortage of water • Falam receives increased hours of electricity • Community radio station to be established in Chin State • Over 100 school children get sick in Salen • Salen school children infected with swine flu Health Department Event and Protest Page 7-8 • Landslide victims hold demonstrations in Hakha • Chin media to meet in Tedim Situation of Refugees Page 9-10 • Fears of attacks and operations loom at Selayang • Malaysia launched non-stop crackdowns on illegal workers Visit us on Other News Page 10-12 www.chro.ca • Arakan Army clashes with Burma Army soldiers in Chin State • Permission to hold Chin National Day in Rangoon re-applied • Chin committees allowed celebrating Chin National Day in Rangoon • Rangoon authorities permit Chin National Day celebration Government Page 12 • Union ministers visit Chin State ahead of Chin National Day Chronology of Conflict Page 13-14 • Some major events of AA-Tatmadaw conflict in Chin State Interview Page 14-18 • We will work together with the people: Interview with NLD Chairman Zo Bawi • Main problem facing the Chin is poverty: Interview with Cheery Zahau In Pictures Page 18-18 • Internally displaced victims in Paletwa Township • Hakha demonstration by landslide victims Volume XVIII, Issue I Rhododendron News January-February 2016 3 Arbitrary Taxation, Extortion & Detention Arakan Army free seven Chin ers in the jungle. However, we are not able to confirm the number yet," he added. abductees He said that Burma Army soldiers camping in the area 04 January 2016 -- The Arakan Army released seven had not taken any action although village leaders had Chin farmers, including two mothers, who were de- informed them of the tained in Paletwa Township, Chin State on 31 Decem- incidents. ber 2015. Clashes between There was a brief fire Arakan Army and Burma The two mothers were taken back to their village, Nga exchange between AA -win-taung, around 4pm on New Year's Day while the soldiers and the Army have taken place other five from both Pyinngu and Nga-win-taung Burma Army near Py- since were freed yesterday. inngu after the two March last year, mothers had been re- AA soldiers stopped and took the villagers away for forcing nearly 400 turned. Chin residents to flee no reasons while they were on the way to their farms, according to the Khumi Media Group . Clashes between the their two groups have village. "People were taken for guide before. But it's different taken place since this time because there were two mothers among March last year, forc- those detained," a villager told the KMG on condition ing nearly 400 Chin residents to flee their village. of anonymity. "People live in fear. They dare not go out of the vil- KMG Editor Peter Lawilu said that all of the seven lage as they are often captured on the way to their detainees were safely back to their villages and in good farms. If they cannot go to work on their farms, what condition. will they eat?" Lawilu said.# "The AA is currently detaining more than seven villag- ALP extorts money from traders named, told the Khumi Media Group . in Paletwa Township Peter Lawilu, an editor of the Khumi Media Group , said that the extortion had got worse in recent 06 January 2016 -- The Arakan Liberation Party months and that people were not happy about the forcibly demands money from local traders in ALP members having their camp in Paletwa area. Paletwa Township, Chin State for crossing the India -Burma border. He said: "There is only one way for people in our area to go to India and it is via Landan near Kara- Paletwa traders said that the party had established a maik village. This is where the ALP sets up its temporary camp near Landan village, also known as camp." La-ba-wa, and that it had been collecting money from them for months. Lawilu indicated that residents were not informed of the reasons for setting up the camp and for ex- They said that they had to pay 200 Indian rupees acting money from traders. for each domestic animal including cows, pigs and goats that were taken with them for sale in The Arakan Liberation Party that has an armed Mizoram State, India. wing, the Arakan Liberation Army, signed a cease- fire agreement with the Union government of "We have to give 100 rupees for a package of Burma on 5 April 2012.# goods and 200 rupees for an empty boat if we have to use it," a Khumi Chin trader, who asks not to be Volume XVIII, Issue I Rhododendron News January-February 2016 4 Arakan Army soldiers extort rice, pig ashes if the Burma Army were informed of their arri- val. from Chin villagers Ai Thang (name changed for security reasons) told the 26 January 2016 -- Soldiers of the Arakan Army ex- Chin Human Rights Organization that the Burma torted ten bags of rice (1 rice bag weighs about 50kg) Army Light Infantry Battalions No. 540, No. 377 and and killed one pig belonging to Tetchaung villagers in No. 378 based in Tantaung-wa village had somehow Paletwa township last Thursday. already known about the incident. A group of 47 AA soldiers arrived in the village "We heard that the Burma Army soldiers went to the around 12 noon, took the rice bags by force, shot the village in an attempt to chase after the AA members pig dead and left around 3pm on the same day, ac- and that they gave 200,000 kyats to the villagers as cording to the Khumi Media Group . they lost their rice and pig," said Thang. The local media reported that the group had arrested A Tetchaung resident said in the Chin World Media that five villagers and used them for their guide as they had the AA soldiers had entered all the houses, ordered all headed towards Ngwetaung village. the villagers to gather at the football pitch, cut off the phone lines and extorted all the phones.# They threatened that their village would be burned to Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) www.chro.ca 2-Montavista Avenue, Nepean, K2J 2L3, Canada Ph: 1-613-843-9484; Email: [email protected] Arakan Army clashes with Burma not got detailed information and not been able to know how many more were still being kept in cus- Army soldiers in Chin State tody by the Arakan Army. 27 January 2016 -- A skirmish between soldiers Since March last year, AA soldiers have been pa- from the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw broke trolling in Paletwa area and clashing with Burma out on a hill near Laungtan village, Paletwa Town- Army soldiers on several occasions, forcing hun- ship on Monday. dreds of villagers to flee their places into hiding. There was an exchange of fire between the two Some critics said that the AA wanted to send a sig- groups and no casualties were reported, according nal to the Union authorities and one of the ways to the Khumi Media Group . was to make noises by clashing with the Tatmadaw soldiers and giving pressure to the local residents. A resident in Pyin-chaung-wa village said on condi- tion of anonymity that the fighting had taken place The Union government did not invite the AA in the and that three AA soldiers reportedly had surren- nationwide ceasefire process, including the recent dered themselves to the Burma Army. Union Peace Conference held in Nay Pyi Taw, and turned down its offer of dialogue. AA soldiers had arrested dozens of Chin villagers and forcibly used them as their guide when they Founded on 10 April 2009 and currently headquar- were on patrol in the area. tered in Kachin State, the Arakan Army was estab- lished to protect the people of Arakan and to pro- Yesterday, more than 30 Chin detainees, including mote peace, justice, freedom and development in women, were released. The KMG said that it had Arakan State, according to its official website.# Volume XVIII, Issue I Rhododendron News January-February 2016 5 Arakan Army soldiers continue The KMG reported that 11 bags of rice and one extortion in Chin State chicken had forcibly been exacted from Saihtha villag- ers by another group of AA members on 2 February. 09 February 2016 -- Soldiers of the Arakan Army have been extorting food from villagers in Paletwa On 25 January this year at Pyin-wa, AA soldiers killed township, Chin State for months, according to local a cow, which was estimated to be worth about residents. 700,000 kyats, and left the village without giving money to the cattle owner. The Khumi Media Group said that about 15 AA mem- bers had entered Ngating village last Sunday and forci- Last Friday, there was a clash between AA and Burma bly taken six bags of rice and five cigarette packages.