Chin State Khuapi Khalkha in angahna thu.

'How Chin Capital Was Moved - Falam to Hakha'

Agelh - Dr. Vumson Suantak

Haka in Zogam khuapi angahna (or) Zogam khuapi Haka ah akituahna tawh kisai mimal kingawhna leh kimawh sakna zong om zeuhzeuh hi. Atheician pawlkhat omding a, atelcianlo zong ki-om theiding ahih manin hong suaksak hi-ing. Pu Moong (Col. Khen Za Moong) nangawn in hihvai tampi nagen lo hi. Banghang hiam cihleh tuahun laitak in amah hihvaisai pawl ah nakihel lo, mundang ah na om ahih man ahi hi. Hihvai ah mawhsak nading tawm mahmah khading hi. Zomi sungah atheitel zawdeuh Dr. Vumson in Zogam khuapi Haka ah akituahna thu Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong laibu tungtawn in ana thukikna, manlo asakna Manglai tawh nagelh hi. Hih anuai-a lai pen kei mimal muhna hilo in Dr. Vumson gelhbang a Zolai tawh alemthei bangin hong letkik hi-ing.

(Dr. Lian Hmung Zakhong in alaibu sungah, “Haka pen Mangkangte hong tuncil a kipan Zogam khuapi (nisuahna lam) hongsuak hi,” ci-in gelhmawk ahih manin tuatawh kisai thuhkikna lai honggelh hi-ing.)

Kei theih batna ciang ah Haka pen 1964 kum masiah Zogam khuapi suak ngeilo hi. Tuathu honggelh suk ning. Mangkangte’n Zogam honglak ciangin Thangmual ah phualsat masa uh hi. Sihzang leh akim apam teng hongzawh ciangun amakai galkapmaang Gen. White kici pa’ min tamsak in Thangmual pen Fort White naci uh hi. Tua Fort White pen Sihzang kual sungah om hi. 1892 kumin Sihzang leh Tedim lam ukpi makaite kipawlin honguk Mangkang Ulian Carey nasuamsawm uh hi. Tuavai ah mapangpite in Kaptel pan Thuam Thawng leh atapa Pau Dal, Heilei pan Khan Dal leh Sihzang ukpite ahi uh hi. Amau tengin Carey tungah hongpai in letsong hong pianuam ung ci-in nasam uh hi. Ahih hangin akiciam ni un Carey pen atungsiahte’n mundang paiding nasawl ahih manin amah tangin Zakhai mi (Arakanese) Myo-Ok hong paiding cihiau hi. Asuamdingte inzong hih Myo-Ok pen Mangkangte’ ading nasem mikhat ahihciang suam veve ni ci-in khensat uh hi. Tua ciangin Lusei, Haka, Tlasun, leh Zahau ukpite zasak uh a, amau zong na thukimpih uh hi. Tua misuam na huhau-in Mangkangte in aphualpi uh Falam ah tuahto uh a, Zogam khuapi nasuak hi. Tualaitak in Zogam (Chin Hills District) pen Tedim, Falam leh Haka gamteng huam hi. Zogam galkapte in Falam ah kiphualsat uh hi. Tua galkapte lakah vaite leh tualmi kihelh zau-in omkhawm uh hi. Tualsung mite hong zakhan masiah amaikai zalian zawdeuh te pen Mangkang te vive mah nahi uh hi. Falam ah azalian pen Deputy Commissioner ciang ahi hi. Falam ah Laito, Sikkhau zum leh Palik lente kilam hi. Tua ahih manin Falam pen 1892 kumpan in Zogam khuapi nasuak hi.

Kawlgam suahtakna ngah ciangin Matupi, Mindat, Pakokku khawksung a om Kanpetlet leh Arakan gam a om Paletwa te Zogam ah hong kigawm hi. Hihteng kigawm pen ‘Chin Special Division’ nakici masa a, akhuapi dingin Falam mah na kizang hi. Zogambup makaipi (Minister of the Chin Affairs) pen Mindat panin Pu Vumtu Maung hi-in, amah pen Falam ah tulo in Zangkong (Rangoon) ah kumpi uliante tawh omzaw hi.​​ Zogam ah Menzi papen Falam ah om in ki-ukna vai atamzaw ama thuneihna nuai-ah kikoih hi. Tuakhit (AFPFL Party pan) teelnangah Kawlgam kumpi khutnuai-ah Pu Sing Htang leh Pu Za Hre Lian te in Zogambup makaipi hongsem leuleu uh hi. Amau zong Zangkong mah ah omzaw uh hi.

1958 kum ciangin AFPFL party te hong kitamh in pawlnih hongsuak uh a, Stable AFPFL te in mitam ngahzaw uh hi. Tua manin Haka tualsuak Pu Ral Hmung pen Zogambup makaipi hongsuak hi. Makaipi asuahphet in Zogam khuapi Haka ah tuah dingin thu napia hi. Akituah ma-in Gen. Ne Win in thei ahih manin nang thu in tawpnuam zawmaw, ken hong tawpsak zawding naci lian hi. Tua cianign Pu Ral Hmung zong amathu in tawppah a, Zogam khuapi zong Haka ah kituah nawnlo phot hi.

Gen. Ne Win in 1962 kum ciangin aana hongluah a, Zogam makai ding zong adeihdeih hong teelpah hi. Zogam makaipi dingin Major Son Kho Lian nateel hi. Pu Son Kho Lian inzong Zangkong tawh kizopna alemthei pending, Kale-Kabaw-Myttha–Gangaw kuamteng tawh zonglah kiphakna alemtaang pending ci-in Kawlpi (Kalaymyo) ah zum nakoih/naphualsat hi. Tua ciangin Kawlpi a teeng Kawlte pawlkhat in Ne Win kiangah ‘Kawlpi pen Shan-le-Kawlte’ khua hi, Zomite’ a hilo hi’ ci-in nakhia uh hi.

U Ne Win in meeting sampah a, tualai ah Pu Son Kho Lian leh makai pawlkhat, Kawlgam saklam galkap phualpi pan alian pen Colonel Lun Tin, alian nihna Colonel Van Kulh, Chin Council Secretary Pu Tuang Hmung, Secretary nihna Pu Ngun To te kihel uh hi. Tua Meeting ah U Ne Win in Pu Son Kho Lian kiangah Zozum pen amun dangah natuah dinguh deih ing ci hi. Tua banah nawngkai salel ing, (Kawlpi losiah) koikoi ah natuah zongun phamawh sakeng ci hi. Tua ciangin Pu Son Kho Lian leh apawlte inzong koilai ah tuahleng lempen ding hiam ci-in hong khinkhai uh hi. Pawlkhat in Kawlpi saklam Webula ah tuahleng ci hi, pawlkhat leuleu in Zogam leh Kawlgam gamgi Gangaw lamah tuahleng ci uh hi. Tua Meeting manciangin Col. Lun Tin in Pu Son Kho Lian kiangah lunghimawh ngaihsut kei-in hih hiat hiat lel in, hih putekpa (Ne Win) pen alungsim hong kikhel kik lelding hi ci-in hehnem hi.

Col. Lun Tin zong agalkap phualpi ahi Mandalay atunzawh tawlkhat khit ciangin mundangah vazin hi. Tuakal in Col. Van Kulh in Pu Ngun To tawh naki gulluk in ‘banghun ciang Zogam khuapi Haka ah tuahleng lemding hiam’ cih nageel sim uh hi. Van Kulh leh Ngun To pen Haka tualsuak tuak ahi uh hi. Tualeh Col. Lun Tin leh Pu Tuang Hmung akhualzin hun uh hong kituak khageih hi. Tualian leh, Van Kulh inzong amau galkap phualpi panin Kawlpi Zozum ah sikkhau saat (Telegram) pah in, Haka ah Zozum natuah un ci-in thupia hi. Tua sikkhau angah phet in Ngun To zong atungsiahpa omloh kal ahih mah bangin amathu in asun azan cilo in Zozum Haka ah natuah phangphang pah hi. Tuahun pen Zogamah khualzin gamvakna ahaksat pen hun tuuklai tak ahi hi. Col. Lun Tin in tuathu atheih ciangin Kawlpi sikkhau saatpah hi. Tua sikkhau lai pen Ngun To in nasel cip in, Zozum kituah amansiang dong kuamah lak lo hi. Col. Lun Tin inzong bang hangin Zozum Haka ah kituah hiam cih kantel/sittel dingin hong kipan hi.

Tualaitak Kawlgam lokhawh singpuak nalam vaisai (Agricultural Department) te golhguk vai-in mindai uh a, tuavai ah Col. Lun Tin zong kihelkha citciat hi. Galkap sungpan Col. Lun Tin kikhawlsak ahih manin Zozum vai (Zogam khuapi kituahvai) zong kikan nawnlo, mitcip suak hi. Hihbang teng hangin Haka in Zogam khuapi ngahkha a, Zomite in ipu ipate Shan te tawh anateen khopna gamnuam kikhahsuah taanlawh ta hi. Athupi pen ah, tuahun masiah Haka ah Zozum kituah lo banah, Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong gelh bangin Mangkangte hong tuncil pan Haka pen Zogam khuapi asuak hi peuhmah lo hi.

(Pu Lian Uk in azenzen in Van Kulh in hibangin phalna omlo pi-in Zozum tuahsim leh khalna Daan kipia loding hiam hong ci hi. Tuapen Col. Lun Tin galkap sungpan kitawpsak keileh Col. Van Kulh in Daan tuak hamtang ding hi cih ka um hi. Kamphatna tawh Daan tuaklo bilbel hi. Banghang hiam cih leh Col. Lun Tin kitawpsak ahih man hi.)

How Chin Capital Was Moved - Falam to Hakha

Written By : Dr. Vumson.

When the British annexed the Chin Hills, they first established their camp at Thangmual, calling it Fort White after General White, who was the commander of the army that subdued the Sizang and surrounding areas. Fort White was in the Sizang area. In 1892, the Sizang chiefs and other chiefs of the general Tedim area planned the assassination of Carey, who was the political officer. The players were Thuam Thawng of Kaptel, his son Pau Dal, Khan Dal, chief of Heilei, and the Sizang chiefs. They invited Mr. Carey saying that they were to give him some presents. However, on the appointed day Mr. Carey was ordered by his superiors to go somewhere else and the Myo-Ok who was an Arakanese was to come to receive the presence.. The plotters decided that as the Myo-ok , being an agent of the British should be welcome and assassinated. The​​ plotters then informed and received their approval from the Lusei, Haka, Tlasun, and Zahau chiefs.

Due to the assassination, the British moved their headquarters then to Falam, and Falam became the capital of the Chin Hills District. At that time the Chin Hills District covered the Tedim, Falam and Hakha districts. The Chin Hills Battalion was stationed in Falam. Its soldiers were a mix of Indian sepoys and local recruits. The higher-ranking officers were British until local recruits were promoted as officers. The deputy commissioner was the highest authority at Falam. They created a post and telegraph offices, and a police force that was stationed in Falam. Thus Falam became the Chin Hills District Capital since 1892.

At independence, Matupi, Mindat (Kanpetlet) formerly of Pakokku district and Paletwa district, formerly of Arakan, were added to the Chin Hills District. Together this region was called the Chin Special Division, with the capital in Falam. The Minister of the Chin Affairs Pu Vumtu Maung, a Cho from Mindat, however did not sit in Falam, but sat in Rangoon together with the cabinet members of the Union Government. The Commissioner of the Chin Special Division did sit in Falam and most of the administration was under his jurisdiction. Thereafter, Pu Sing Htang and Pu Za Hre Lian were Ministers for the Chin Affairs under the AFPFL governments. They sat in Rangoon.

In 1958 the ruling AFPFL party split into two factions and the Stable AFPFL had the majority. Thus Pu Ral Hmung, a native of Haka district, became the Chin affairs minister. He ordered the transfer of the Chin Capital to Haka immediately after becoming the minister. But before it was implemented, General Ne Win, who was the Prime Minister of the Caretaker Government at that time, gave Ral Hmung an ultimatum, to resign or be fired. Ral Hmung resigned and the transfer was not implemented.

When General Ne Win took over power the second time in 1962, he handpicked the members of the Chin Council and appointed Major Son Kho Lian as the Chairman. Son Kho Lian set up his administration at Kalemyo, in order to facilitate communication with Rangoon, the Union Capital, and easier access to the fertile Kale-Kabaw- Myttha –Gangaw Valley. The Burman had once protested the presence of the Chin administration in Kalemyo. This time some Burman from the Stable AFPFL complained to Ne Win that the Chin administration had no place in Kalemyo because Kalemyo had been a Shan – Burman town and did not belong to the Chins. At a meeting between Ne Win, Son Kho Lian and several Council members, Northern Burma Army Commander Colonel Lun Tin, his deputy Colonel Van Kulh, Pu Tuang Hmung, the Chin Council Secretary, and his deputy Pu Ngun To, Ne Win told Son Kho Lian that he wanted him to transfer his administration somewhere else. Ne Win said that it was an annoyance and he did not care where the administration would be moved. Son Kho Lian and his council members contemplated where it would best be moved, and some suggested to Webula just north of Kalemyo or the other to Gangaw area at Chin Special Division and Burma border.

After the meeting Lun Tin told Son Kho Lian that he should take it easy and the “old man” would change his mind. Some time after returning to his headquarters in Mandalay, Lun Tin had to go away for a few days. In the mean time, Colonel Van Kulh had been coordinating with Ngun To when to move the capital to Haka. Both Van Kulh and Ngun To were native to the Haka district. When the absence of Tuang Hmung and Lun Tin from their offices coincided, Van Kulh sent a telegram to the Secretary of the Chin Council to move the administration to Haka. On receiving the telegram, Ngun To implemented the transfer of the Chin administration to Haka by day and night although it was during the rainy season and travel most difficult in the Chin Hills. When Lun Tin learned about the transfer order, he sent another telegram to Kalemyo, but Ngun To hid it until the transfer was completed. Colonel Lun Tin launched an investigation on what had been done on the move of the Chin administration from Kalemyo​​ to Haka. At the same time there was a scandal in the Agricultural Department of the Ne Win government in which Lun Tin had a hand. With Colonel Lun Tin’s departure from the military the case was closed. With this maneuver, Haka got the capital and the Chin lost their access to the fertile land of their forefathers, which they shared with the Shan. Most importantly, the transfer to Haka did not happen until that time, and not “Since the arrival of the British” as the author claims.

( Pu Lian Uk suggested that Van Kulh might face some disciplinary action if he was involved in such a matter. I believe that had Lun Tin was not removed from his post Col. Van Kulh might face some disciplinary action but luckily that did not happened. As Lun Tin was fired and …..)

Manglai pan Zolai in lailet ~ Sia Zam Sian Sum