Chin State

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Chin State
ချင်းြပည်နယ်

State

Myanma transcription(s)

• Burmese hkyang: pranynai

 Flag

Location of Chin State in Myanmar

Coordinates: 22°0′N 93°30′ECoordinates: 22°0′N 93°30′E

Country Myanmar
Region Western Myanmar
 Capital Hakha

Government
• Chief Minister Ngun San Aung
• Cabinet Chin State Government
• Legislature Chin State Hluttaw
• Judiciary Chin State High Court

Area
[1]

• Total 36,018.8 km2(13,906.9 sq mi)

• Rank 9th

Highest elevation 3,070 m (10,070 ft)

(Nat Ma Taung)

Population
(2014)[2]
• Total 478,801
• Rank 14th
• Density 13/km2 (34/sq mi)

Demographics
• Ethnicities Chin (Zo)
• Religions Christianity 85.4%
Theravada Buddhism13.0%
Laipian 1.1%
Animism 0.4%
Islam 0.1%

Time zone UTC+06:30 (MST)

HDI (2015) 0.556[3]

medium · 7th

This article contains Burmese script. Without proper rendering support, you may
see question marks, boxes, or other symbolsinstead of Burmese script.

Chin State (Burmese: ချင်းြပည်နယ်; MLCTS: hkyang:

pranynai, pronounced [tɕʰɪ́ɰ̃ pjìnɛ̀]) is a state in western Myanmar. The
36,019-square-kilometre (13,907 sq mi) Chin State is bordered
by Sagaing Divisionand Magway Division to the east, Rakhine State to
the south, the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the west, and
the Indian states of Mizoram to the west and Manipur to the north. The
population of Chin state is about 478,801 according to the 2014
census.[4] The capital of the state is Hakha. The state is a mountainous
region with few transportation links. Chin State is sparsely populated
and remains one of the least developed areas of the country. Chin State
has the highest poverty rate of 73% as per the released figures from the
first official survey.[5] The official radio broadcasting dialect of Chin
is Falam. There are 53 different subtribes and languages in Chin State.
There are nine townships in Chin State: Hakha,
Thantlang, Falam, Tedim, Tonzang, Matupi, Mindat, Kanpetlet and Pale
twa townships. In 1896, Mindat and Kanpetlet were placed
under Pakokku Hill Tracts District of British Burma later emerged into
Chin hills. Only Paletwa Township became a part of Arakan Hill Tracts
of British Burma.

History[edit]
Early history[edit]
The Chin people entered the Chin Hills in the first millennium 1200 AD
as part of the wider migration of Chin peoples into the area. For much of
history, the sparsely populated Chin Hills were ruled by local chiefs.
Some historians (Arthur Phayre, Tun Nyein) put Pateikkaya in eastern
Bengal, thus wrongly placing the entire Chin Hills under Pagan
suzerainty but others, like Harvey, citing stone inscriptions, properly put
it near the eastern Chin Hills.[6] (Burmese Chronicles report the kings of
Pateikkaya as Indian though the ethnicity of the subjects is not explicitly
cited.) Accordingly, since the first human settlement in the region later
called Chin Hills as early as 10 century CE, no other external military
conquest nor tributary influence was noticed either in oral traditions or
other historical inscriptions but the rule and leadership of local native
chiefs as listed above until the British advancement in the late 19th
century.
Feudal era[edit]
The first confirmed political entity in the region was the Shan
State of Kale (Kalay), founded by the Shan people who came to
dominate Kale-Kabaw valley of the northwestern-to-eastern arc of
Burma after the fall of the Pagan Kingdom in 1287. Kale was a minor
Shan state. The minor state occasionally paid tribute to the larger Shan
States of Mohnyin and Mogaung and ultimately became a vassal state of
the Burmese Ava Kingdom in the 1370s. Starting in the 1480s, Ava
began to disintegrate and Kale was swallowed up by the Shan State of
Mohnyin by the 1520s. Three of the Saopha sons (Thein Kheing/Thuan
Khai(Ancestor of Hlythi/Hlawncheu, Hauhulh and Zahao/Zahau), Phra
Lung/Phurh hlum (Ancestor of
Zanniat/Nuhma/Nohro(Sumthang,Syuhlo,Hlosa/Hluansang{Chozah/Ch
eizah/Chinzah, Zawtha/Zawthang/Zathang, Hlychho/Hlawnchhing,
Khule/Khuhhly/Khenglawt, Hluansang, Hlikhai} and
Notlia/Nuhnu/Nutlai), and Ral Thang{Mi-E, Thawr, Lente, Bawithang,
Sailung}) fled to the Chin hills around 1400 where their descendants
ruled the petty chiefdoms all over Falam, Hakha, and parts of Paletwa
and Mindat district along with various villages in the hill range of
Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts and India(Mizoram) as well some
villages in Rakhaing State.
The Burmese kingdoms between 1555 and 1559 when
King Bayinnaung of the Toungoo Dynastyconquered part of Upper
Burma and its surrounding regions, stretching from the eastern and
northern Shan states to the western Magway Division and plain region
in Manipur.[7] Toungoo began to weaken in the late 17th century. By the
1730s, a resurgent Manipuri Kingdom had conquered the Kabaw
Valley, which is at the eastern front of Chin Hills, from the Burmese.
Situated in a far west hilly region, however, Chin Hills was traditionally
autonomous and far for successional Burman kingdoms to reach. Until
British colonial rule, independent city-states such
as Ciimnuai (Chinwe/Chin Nwe) later shifted to Tedim and Vangteh in
the north, Tlaisun and Rallang in the mid-land, and Hakha, Thantlang
and Zokhua in the south played important political role in securing
peace of the region, and each city-state practised its own independent
sovereignty in their own rights.
Colonial era[edit]
The British acquired the Chin Hills a decade after the Third Anglo-
Burmese War of 1885. Americanmissionaries began arriving in the
1890s and, by the middle of the 20th century, most of the Chin
peoplehad converted to Christianity. The ensuing Chin resistance to the
British was suppressed only by 1896 with the arrest of Khai Kam
Thuantak of Siyin area.In 1896,it became a part of Pakokku Hill Tracts
Districts of British Burma until 1948,January 4. The administered the
Chin Hills as part of Pakokku District. The region was the westernmost
advance of the Imperial Japanese Army, which occupied the region in
November 1943, in World War II. After the war, Chin state leaders
headed by Vawmthu Moung, with Burman, Shanand Kachin leaders,
participated in the Panglong Conference which discussed the future of
an independent Union of Burma. Because of the region's heavy
economic dependence on Burma, Chin leaders, unlike Shan and Kachin
leaders, asked only for a "special administrative division", not a full-
fledged state. As a result, when the 1947 Constitution of Burma granted
the right of secession to states after 10 years after the independence, the
Chin people did not get a state (no right to secede). (The Karen, who did
not participate in the conference, received a state, with the right to
secede). Until 1974, three townships of today Chin State
(Mindat,Kanpetlet and Matupi townships) were part of Pakokku Hill
Tracts of Pakokku District and then, it became a part of Chin State Until
now.
Post-Burmese independence[edit]
Upon Burma's independence from the United Kingdom in 1948, Chin
Hills Special Division was created out of the Chin Hills, with its capital
at Falam. However, three townships of modern Chin State
(Mindat, Kanpetlet and Matupi) were part of the Pakokku Hill Tracts
of Pakokku District and Paletwa Township of the Arakan Hill Tracts,
until 4 January 1974. On 4 January 1974, the Chin Hills Special
Division was granted state status and became Chin State.[8] Today, Chin
State has little infrastructure and remains extremely poor and
undeveloped.
"Chin National Day" is designated on 20 February to commemorate the
"General Assembly of Chinland" held in 1948.[9] The first celebration of
Chin National Day was held in 1951, but it was not well recognized by
Myanmar governments until the 2010s.[10]
Chin National Front proposed to designate 3 January as "Chin State
Day".[11]

Administrative divisions[edit]
Districts of Chin State
To more easily convince the Chin people within the declaration of
emergency rule by the Burma government, Chin State divided to two
districts in the north (Hakha District and Falam District) and two in the
south (Mindat and Matupi District) and was further subdivided into nine
townships and three subtownships. Falam had been the district capital
since the British colonization. After the military coup in 1962, the junta
in the 1974 reorganization shifted the state capital to Hakha.
The township borders have been adjusted, most recently in a
reorganization of Falam District in 2008. Falam Township lost area in
its northeast to Tedim Township but gained territory from Tedim in the
northwest, extending northward as far as the developing town
of Rihkhawdar on the Indian border. In the reorganization, Falam lost a
small area in its southwest back to Thantlang Township from which it
had recently been shifted.
Districts and Townships[edit]

• Tedim District of Northern Chin State

• Tedim Township
• Tonzang Township
• Cikha Subttownship
• Khaikam Town
• Falam District Central Chin State
• Falam Township
• Rihkhawdar Town
• Webula Town
• Hakha District of Central Chin State
• Hakha Township
• Surkhua Town
• Thantlang Township
 • Hnaring Town
• Matupi District of Central and Southwestern Chin State
• Matupi Township
• Rezua Subtownship
• Lailenpi Town
• Paletwa Township
• Samee Subtownship
• Mindat District of Southeastern Chin State
• Mindat Township
• Makui Innu Town
• Kanpetlet Township
Hakha District was formed by the first Chin State Hluttaw emergency
meeting No. 2/2012 on 1 June.[12] Matupi District was formed by the
second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw regular meeting on 28 June 2017.[13][14]
Cities and towns[edit]

• Cikha, subtownship in the north

• Falam, northern Chin State (Falam District)
• Hakha, capital of Chin State (Hakha District)
• Kanpetlet
• Lailenpi, subtownship in west south
• Matupi, southern capital town.(Matupi District)
• Mindat, southern Chin State
• Paletwa, southern Chin State
• Rezua, Rezua Subtownship
• Rihkhawdar, subtownship in the north
• Sami, subtownship in south
• Tedim, Tedim Township
• Thantlang, Thantlang Township
• Tonzang, Tonzang Township
• Webula, Webula town
• Hnaring, Hnaring town
• Surkhua, Surkhua town
• Makui innu, Makui Innu town
• Khaikam, Khaikam subtownship in east
• Loklung village

Government[edit]
Executive[edit]
Main article: Chin State Government
Legislature[edit]
Main article: Chin State Hluttaw
Judiciary[edit]
Main article: Chin State High Court
 This section needs expansion. You
can help by adding to it. (July
2015)

Geography[edit]

Hiang Ziing Village, Tedim Township, Chin State

Khonumtung (Mount Victoria), 10,500 feet (3,200 m) high, is the
highest peak in Chin State.
Many natural watercourses flow among mountain ranges running from
north to south forming valleys and gorges. The state has many rivers
and the Manipur River flows through its northern half. The Tio
River forms much of the border with India for the northern half of the
state. The Bawinu/Beino/Chhimtuipui River, as the Kaladan River is
known upstream from its confluence with the Tiau, forms the border
with India for the central portion of the state. In the southwestern part of
the state, the Kaladan River enters from India and flows down past
Sinletwa/Salyutlana and Paletwa and exits into Rakhine State. The
longest waterfall in Chin state is the Bungtla Waterfall near Matupi.

Population[edit]
Demographics[edit]
See also: Kuki-Chin languages

Historical population

Year Pop. ±%

1973 323,295 —

1983 368,949 +14.1%

 2014 478,801 +29.8%

Source: 2014 Myanmar Census[2]

The people of Chin state are made up of many tribes which, though
historically related, now speak divergent languages and have different
cultural and historical identities. Some consider the name Chin
an exonym, given by the Burmese and of unclear origin. There are
different languages or ethnic groups in Chin State: Kcho, Laimi,
Matu, Zomi, Mizo, Asho, Mara, Khumi, and Daai.
Religion[edit]
Religion in Chin (2014)[15]

Christianity (85.4%)
Buddhism (13%)
Tribal religion (0.4%)
Islam (0.1%)
Other religion (1.1%)
According to the 2014 Myanmar Census, Christians, who make up
85.4% of Chin State’s population, form the largest religious community
there.[16] Minority religious communities
include Buddhists (13%), Muslims (0.1%), Hindus (0%),
and animists (0.4%), including adherents of Pau Cin Hau, who
collectively comprise the remainder of Chin State’s population.[16] 1.1%
of the population listed no religion, other religions, or were otherwise
not enumerated.[16] Chin State is the only state in Myanmar with a
majority Christian population.[17]
According to the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee’s 2016
statistics, 457 Buddhist monks were registered in Chin State, comprising
0.1% of Myanmar's total Sangha membership, which includes both
novice samanera and fully-ordained bhikkhu.[18] All monks in Chin State
belong to the Thudhamma Nikaya (100%).[18] 43 thilashin were
registered in Chin State, comprising 0.1% of Myanmar’s total thilashin
community.[18]

Transport[edit]
The government has been building many new miles of roads in the
mountainous region. Earth roads have been upgraded into metaled ones
and metaled roads to bituminous facilities. The 115-mile (185 km)
Kalay-Falam-Haka road is already completed. Bituminous roads include

• 70 miles and four furlong Gangaw-Haka Road

• 102 miles Pakokku-Mindat-Matupi-Rezua Road
• 172 miles and seven furlong Haka-Rezua-Matupi Road
• 115 miles and one furlong Kalay-Falam-Haka Road
 • 53 miles long Haka-Hmandaw Road is under construction
and almost completed by the donation of Chin (Laimi
peoples) communities around the world.
• Kyaukhtu-Mindat road linking Chin State and Magway
Division have been built.

Gangaw-Hakha Road at the border between Magwe Region and Chin State
ASEAN Highway crosses through the center of Chinland settling areas
of Madalay-Kalay-Tamu-Lamka/Behiang.
The sector-wise upgrading of the gateways to Chin State Mandalay-
Sagaing-Monywa-Gangaw-Haka road and Pakokku-Pauk-Tabyin-
Kyaukhtu-Mindat road is in progress.
Kyaukhtu Airport, built by Directorate of Military Engineers of the
Ministry of Defence in Kyaukhtu, Saw Township, Gangaw District,
Magway Division, was commissioned into service on 10 July 2004. The
airport has helped develop the transport sector of southern Chin State
linking Yaw and Pakokku regions in Magway Division.
Cars can reach Kanpetlet from Magway (capital of Magway division)
via Saw and from Kyautthu and Mindat and Matupi in southern Chin
State from Pakukku via Kyaukhtu.
In 1988, the state has two over 180-foot (55 m) bridges:

• 270 foot Nakzaang Bridge in Tonzang Township

• 240 foot Lemro Bridge in Matupi Township.
The military government has built the 340-foot (100 m) Var Bridge
across Manipura River on Kalay-Haka Road in Falam Township in 1998
and 480-foot (150 m) 'Mansuang Hlei' Bridge across River Manipura on
Tedim-Kaptel-Rih Lake road in Tedim District in 2002. The 460-foot
(140 m) Mansaung Bridge is being built across Manipura River on
Tedim-Rih Lake section.
Airports[edit]

• Surbung Airport
• Paletwa Airport VYPE