Following negotiations among the Burmese government and four ethnic armed groups (the Karenni National Progressive Party, the Karen National Union, the Kachin Independence Organization and the Chin National Front) on 19 November, the Burmese government and the CNF agreed to hold peace talks in Hakha.

Some Chin politicians living abroad have also welcomed peace talks process.

“We hope that there will be good results for our Chin people and their development,” said a town elder from Hakha.

The central committee meeting was held with around 30 party members, including the Party President, the General Secretary aand Hluttaw representatives of the CNP.

The CNP also drafted an election strategy motion at the meeting. At the next election, the organization intends to focus on winning senior positions at both the block and the township levels, said Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, General Secretary of the CNP.

“…we want to win all block and village level administrator posts in the next election in Chin State, because the law concerning state administrative posts is being finalized by the central government and the President of the Union of Burma and will sign it into law. So we had to pass a resolution on this ourselves,” said Mr. Thawng.

Mr. Thawng told Khonumthung that members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party currently held the administrative posts at the village level in Chin State. He further noted that local people were disappointed with those officials and wanted change sooner rather than later.

The CNP members also discussed opium cultivation in Tonzang Township. In addition, they considered the fact of out-migration from Chin State due to poverty and what could be done to improve the situation.

The CNP was formed in 2010 and contested the Burmese general elections in Chin State. It won nine constituencies. Khonumthung news