Questions over State budget to build Buddhist infrastructure in Chin State

11 November 2013: Chin MPs enquired about budget sanctioned separately by the government of Chin State for construction of Buddhist buildings in three townships.

They said that they wanted to know the reason why a fund was earmarked only for Buddhists, but not for other religious groups in Burma’s western State, with the majority being Christian.

The new 2014-15 budget planned by the government of Chin State includes financial allocation to construct Buddhist monasteries, schools and community halls in Paletwa, Mindat and Tedim townships.

Pu Lal Mawng Cung MP said that he raised a question during the recent parliamentary sessions asking if a Christian group would be allowed to receive budget allocations.

He said that Chief Minister Hung Ngai responded saying a budget could be assigned if the proposal met the requirements, adding: “There is no discrimination against any religious groups.”

In the contrary, Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, said in his report to the United Nations General Assembly late last month that Christians in Chin State were being discriminated against.

The seventh regular session of the first Chin State Parliament was held in Hakha on 4-6 November 2013.#