Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD) issued a statement dated October 19th, saying that it opposes the transfer of voters’ list in Shweaungtha village located in Mindat District in southern Chin State, to Hteelin Township in Gangaw District in Magway Region.
Shweaungtha village has been a part of Chin State throughout history. Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, General Secretary of the CNLD said: “We protest against it. Take a look at the successive history; the village was included in Chin State in the 2010 General Election held in the General Than Shwe Administration and the 2015 General Election under the U Thein Sein government.
Administration. The problem arises in the 2020 General Election in the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Administration. Is this done on purpose? If so they have quietly moved the Chin border?”
Until the 2015 General Election, the list of voters was put in Hlaechan village-tract in Mindat Township Constituency in Mindat District in Chin State. Such an act has been carried out during the tenure of the NLD-led government. The CNLD considers it is a big loss to Chin people. CNLD General Secretary demands that The Union Election Commission and authorities reverse the transfer of voters from Magway, and bring them back under the jurisdiction of Chin State.
ShweAungTha village was put in Aung village-tract in Hteelin Township in Gangaw District in Magway Region according to the records issued by the General Administration Department dated December 31, 2018.
“As far as I know, the village is located in Chin State. Based on the measurement of forest reserve area, it is included in Magway Region. I think this problem arises as the border demarcation between the region and the state is not properly dealt with during two successive parliamentary terms,” said Salai Mann Om, a leader of Third Eye, a civil society based in Mindat Township of Chin State.
U Lin Kyaw, Secretary of the Chin State Election Sub-Commission said: “The sub-commission collected the lists of voters based on the territorial areas demarcated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Shweaungtha village located on the Magway-Chin border has more than 30 households, a population of more than 100. There are around 60 voters in the village.
