AFP: Myanmar abusing Christian Chin minority: rights group

Myanmar abusing Christian Chin minority: rights group Jan 27, 2009 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gjqP4j378-lhdyHqhCHKPcFUSEXQ BANGKOK (AFP) — Myanmar’s military regime is committing widespread abuses against the mainly Christian Chin ethnic group, who face famine, forced labour, torture and persecution, a rights group said Wednesday. New York-based Human Rights Watch said tens of thousands of Chin flee across the

VOA: Human Rights Watch Calls for Aid to Burma Refugees in India

Human Rights Watch Calls for Aid to Burma Refugees in IndiaBy Ron CorbenBangkok28 January 2009http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-01/2009-01-28-voa19.cfm?CFID=191416924&CFTOKEN=96322755&jsessionid=883046d56014548ac26a11525c111d259417     Rights group, Human Rights Watch, is calling for India to provide access to the United Nations to assist up to 100,000 Burmese ethnic Chin who have fled persecution and poverty in Burma. Human Rights Watch accuses Burma’s military government

WA Today: Flower that leads to famine

Flower that leads to famine by Jewel Topsfield WA Today http://www.watoday.com.au/national/flower-that-leads-to-famine-20090220-8dr1.html February 20, 2009 ONCE every 50 years a species of bamboo flowers in the Burmese state of Chin, heralding the beginning of a famine. This sounds like the stuff of myth, the first line of a fairytale told to wide-eyed children around the campfire.

BANGKOK POST: No refuge on the southern border

No refuge on the southern border Reports of organised human trafficking and extortion by Malaysian immigration officials, while Thailand turns a blind eye, are too credible to ignore. By: Erika Fry BANGKOK POST: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/15714/ Published: 26/04/2009 at 12:00 AM It’s hard to know when a nightmare truly begins, and while caught in its grim unreality,

NEWSTRACK INDIA: Chin suffers from inadequate access to protection in India

Chin suffers from inadequate access to protection in IndiaBy Nava ThakuriaNEWSTRACK INDIA: http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/82978New Delhi, Tue, 07, April 2009 The Chin people of Burma, who are living in the Indian capital, suffers from less access to humanitarian relief and services by the local government and also the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in New

1998 Reports on Forced Labour

60 TIMES A PORTER FOR THE BURMESE ARMY IN 1998 Mangte (name changed),a Chin villager from Saek village, Falam township of Chin State, had served as porter for 60 times in 1998. Other villagers also served as army porter as he did. He said: “Most of the time we had to carry chicken, pork, foods

1999 reports on Forced Labour

Forced labour Major Khin Maung Ye, LIB 266, ordered the three villages: Saikah, Ruakhua and Ruabuk to present one person per family with their own tools and food in reconstructing road between Sopum and Sihhmuh village. The villagers have started reconstructing the road since 23rd September because they did not dare to resist the order.

2000 Reports On Forced Labour

Supply Wood Or Pay Fine Each block of villages in Paletwa area, Southern Chin State, were forced to supply wood of 75 cubic feet per block. The defaulter Hemapi block had to pay the fine of Ks. 60000 to Major Zaw Tun, the battalion commander of Sinletwa. The Battalion, Light Infantry Battalion LIB 538, issued

2001 Reports on Forced Labour

SPDC uses Forced Labor in Army Owned Farm The Burmese army has been forcing the civilian to work in the army-owned farms in Kankaw township of Western Burma, according to the testimony of U Kyaw Win (Name changed for security reason). A 48 year-old village headman from XXX village, U Kyaw Win testified to the

2002 Reports on Forced Labour

Forced Labor Continues In Remote Areas of Chin State Beginning January 5, 2000, ten villages in remote areas of Chin State were forced to construct a 20-mile motor road lingking Vuangtu and Ngaphaipi villages, an eye witness told Chin Human Rights Organization. Section 2 Commander of Burmese Army Light Infantry Battalion LIB 269 stationed at