Chin civil society organisations held a two-day meeting on April 23 and 24 to build a common national identity agreement between the Chin ethnic group and subgroups living in Arakan State.

The meeting was held in Okkan village, Myebon Township, and was attended by more than 100 representatives from 24 Chin civil society organisations in Arakan State.

An official from the Arakan Chin Together (ACT) group told DMG that the event aimed to build the cultural diversity of the Chin people in Arakan State, as well as addressing environmental issues affecting their communities and addressing their educational challenges.

“We discussed how to deal with environmental degradation and deforestation in Chin areas of Arakan State, with the aim of building a common national identity for the Chin people in Arakan State,” said Salai Tun Hla Kyaw, an information officer for ACT. “The meeting also focused on how Chin civil society organisations in Arakan State can find ways to help the Chin people in Arakan State tackle the educational challenges they face.”

There are six Chin tribes — Cumtu, Asho, Kongtu, Laitu, Laisaw and Upul — in Arakan State. Most of Arakan State’s ethnic Chin people rely on farming for their livelihoods, with populations concentrated in Ann, Minbya and Myebon townships.

Salai Naw Saw, a Chin historian who attended the weekend meeting, told DMG that the Chin civil society organisations’ holding of the talks had yielded positive results and brought the Chin people closer together as a community.

“As a result of this meeting, the knowledge of Chin civil society organisations increased. And we were able to have a good discussion with each other about the needs of our Chin people,” he said.

Chin civil society organisations also held a meeting in Wah Khok Chaung village in Myebon Township on March 5 and 6, to unite the Chin people living in Arakan State.