US ambassador meets with Chin media groups

22 April 2015 — US Ambassador to Burma Derek Mitchell today met with Chin media organizations in Hakha during his first official visit to the country’s western state.

In the one-hour meeting, he stressed the importance of media freedom and human rights in a democratic society, especially in ethnic areas in the context of Burma.

According to the Hakha Post, the US diplomat highlighted the need for media organizations to report stories about political parties contesting in the upcoming general election in a fair and unbiased manner.

Arriving in Hakha yesterday, Mr Mitchell visited the location of the Hakha Christian cross on Caarcaang Hill and the graveyard of the American Baptist missionaries to Chin State.

He also held meetings with the Chin National Front, Chin Peace and Tranquility Committee, Christian leaders, civil society groups and Hung Ngai, chief minister of the Chin State government on separate occasions yesterday.

The US ambassador took the chance to visit the Chin Christian University, recently upgraded from college status, and donated books for its library, according to Hakha-based media reports.

Mr Mitchell met with the government of Chin State today.#