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Chin State

Coordinates: 22°0′N 93°30′E / 22.000°N 93.500°E / 22.000; 93.500
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For the self-governing polity, see Chinland.

Chin State
ချင်းပြည်နယ်
State
Myanmar transcription(s)
 • Burmesehkyang: pranynai
Chin Village Ferry
Chin Village Ferry
Flag of Chin State
Flag
Location of Chin State in Myanmar
Location of Chin State in Myanmar
Coordinates: 22°0′N 93°30′E / 22.000°N 93.500°E / 22.000; 93.500
Country Myanmar
RegionWestern Myanmar
CapitalHakha
Government
 • Chief MinisterPu Dr. Vungh Suan Thang
 • CabinetChin State Government
 • LegislatureChin State Hluttaw
 • JudiciaryChin State High Court
Area
[1]
 • Total
36,018.8 km2 (13,906.9 sq mi)
 • Rank9th
Highest elevation
(Nat Ma Taung)
3,070 m (10,070 ft)
Population
 (2014)[2]
 • Total
478,801
 • Rank14th
 • Density13/km2 (34/sq mi)
Demographics
 • EthnicitiesChin
 • ReligionsChristianity 91.5%
Buddhism 8.0%
Animism and other religions 0.5%
Time zoneUTC+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 symbols instead of Burmese script.

Chin State (Burmese: ချင်းပြည်နယ်; MLCTS: hkyang: pranynai, pronounced [tɕʰɪ́ɰ̃ pjìnɛ̀]) is a state in western Myanmar. Chin State is bordered by Sagaing Division and 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 488,801 according to the 2014 census, and its capital city is Hakha.[4]

The state is named for the Chin people, an ethnic group native to Chin State and neighboring Rakhine State. Much of the state is mountainous and sparsely populated, with few transportation links and low levels of economic development. It also has Myanmar's highest poverty rate, at 58%, according to a 2017 report.[5]

History

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Early history

[edit]

Situated in a far hilly region, Chin Hills was traditionally autonomous and far from their neighboring powers like Burman kingdoms in the east and Indian states in the west to reach.[6] Until the British advancement in the region, independent city-states such as Ciimnuai (Chinwe/Chin Nwe) later shifted to Tedim and Vangteh in the north,[7] Tlaisun (also recorded as Tashon) and Rallang in the mid-land, and Hakha, Thantlang and Zokhua (Yokwa) in the south played important political role in securing peace of the region,[8] and each city-state practised its own independent sovereignty in their own rights.

20th century

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Upon Burma's independence from the United Kingdom in 1948, the Chin Hills Special Division was created, with its capital at Falam. Hakha later became the capital. However, three townships that are today part of present-day Chin State (Mindat, Kanpetlet and Matupi) were previously part of the Pakokku Hill Tracts of Pakokku District and Paletwa Township of the Arakan Hill Tracts, until 4 January 1974. On this date, the Chin Hills Special Division was granted state status and became Chin State.[9]

"Chin National Day" is designated on 20 February to commemorate the "General Assembly of Chinland" held in 1948.[10] The first celebration of Chin National Day was held in 1951, but it was not recognized by the Myanmar government until the 2010s.[11]

Myanmar civil war

[edit]
Main article: Chin theater

Chin State, like much of Myanmar, has been deeply affected by the Myanmar civil war since it broke out in 2021. Tens of thousands of Chin State residents have fled to neighboring Mizoram, India, and towns such as Thantlang were destroyed in the fighting.[12] Since the war broke out, several armed opposition groups have emerged calling themselves the Chinland Defense Force. The groups are reportedly funded by the Chin diaspora and by the National Unity Government of Myanmar, an opposition government-in-exile.[13]

On 6 December 2023 the Chin National Front adopted a Chinland Constitution, proclaiming the state of Chinland.[14] But resistance groups from 5 townships (Falam, Kanpetlet, Matupi, Mindat, and Tedim) out of 9 townships in Chin State objected to this constitution. [15]

Administrative divisions

[edit]
Districts of Chin State 2022

Hakha District was formed by the first Chin State Hluttaw emergency meeting No. 2/2012 on 1 June.[16] Matupi District was formed by the second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw regular meeting on 28 June 2017.[17][18]

Government

[edit]

Executive

[edit]
Main article: Chin State Government

Legislature

[edit]
Main article: Chin State Hluttaw

Economy

[edit]

Chin State has little infrastructure and remains extremely poor and undeveloped.

Demographics

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
See also: Kuki-Chin languages
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1973323,295—    
1983368,949+14.1%
2014478,801+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. Ethnic groups in Chin State include Zo, Zomi, Laimi, K'Cho, Khumi, Asho.

Religion

[edit]

Religion in Chin (2014)[19]

  Christianity (91.5%)
  Buddhism (8.0%)
  Tribal and other religions (0.5%)
  Hinduism (0.0%)
  Islam (0.0%)

According to the 2014 Myanmar Census, Christians make up the vast majority of Chin State's population, at 91.5%.[20] Minority religious communities include Buddhists (8.0%), Islam (0.0%), Hindus (0.0%), and Animism and other religions (0.4%), including adherents of Pau Cin Hau, who collectively comprise the remainder of Chin State's population.[20] 0.1% of the population listed no religion, or other religions, or were otherwise not enumerated.[20] Chin State is the only state in Myanmar with a majority Christian population.[21]

Religious
group 		Population
% 1983 		Population
% 2014[19]
Christianity 91.5% 91.5%
Buddhism 6.1% 8.0%
Tribal and Other Religions 1.4% 0.5%
Hinduism 0.0% 0.0%
Islam 0.0% 0.0%

Education

[edit]
See also: List of universities in Chin State

According to official statistics,[22] Chin State had 25 high schools in 2003.

References

[edit]
Mizo test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator
Chin test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator
Laiholh test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator
  1. ^ "Union of Myanmar". City Population. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  2. ^ a b Census Report. The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census. Vol. 2. Naypyitaw: Ministry of Immigration and Population. May 2015. p. 17.
  3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Census Population Dashboard | MIMU". themimu.info. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Myanmar Living Conditions Survey 2017". United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  6. ^ B. S. Carey & H. N. Tuck, The Chin Hills: A History of the People, our dealings with them, their Customs and Manners, and a Gazetteer of their Country, vol. 1 (Rangoon, Burma: Government Printing, 1896), 12-33.
  7. ^ Ngul Lian Zam (Guite), "Mualthum Kampau Guite Hausate Tangthu" (Amazon/CreateSpace, United States, 2018), 77-152 ISBN 978-1721693559.
  8. ^ Carey & Tuck, The Chin Hills 1, 17-18, 23-24.
  9. ^ "Myanmar Divisions". Statoids. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Celebration Of 65th Chin National Day". Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  11. ^ Cung, Zing. "Chin Identity and Chin National Day". Chin Community in Norway. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  12. ^ Fishbein, Emily (29 August 2023). "Myanmar's striking civil servants: Displaced, forgotten, but holding on". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  13. ^ Ghoshal, Devyjot (12 December 2021). "Insight: In Myanmar's Chin state, a grassroots rebellion grows". Reuters. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  14. ^ "The First Chin-Written Constitution: A New Template For Self-Determination?". The Irrawady. 26 December 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023.
  15. ^ Martin, Michael (1 November 2024). "Trouble Among the Chin of Myanmar". Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Retrieved 16 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/newpaper/46newsn.pdf [permanent dead link‍] Page 16, Col 1.
  17. ^ Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, fifth regular meeting record (in Burmese), Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, p. 420
  18. ^ Rezua
  19. ^ a b Department of Population Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population MYANMAR (July 2016). The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census Census Report Volume 2-C. Department of Population Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population MYANMAR. pp. 12–15.
  20. ^ a b c The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census Census Report Volume 2-C (PDF). Department of Population Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population. July 2016. pp. 12–15.
  21. ^ "Laipian Pa Ni kibawl". ZomiDaily. archive.is. 29 December 2012. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Education statistics by level and by State and Division". Myanmar Central Statistical Organization. Archived from the original on 24 May 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
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