The Zomi Congress for Democracy (ZCD) has requested that State Counsellor Daw Aung Suu Kyi establish a fifth district in Chin State: Tedim.

On Monday, ZCD wrote an open letter asking for the State Counsellor’s assistance in designating Tedim and Tonzang townships as their own district, called Tedim. The two townships are home to one-fourth of Chin State’s population.

Burma’s Union government has attached Tedim and Tonzang to Falam District for nearly 60 years, meaning that government departments for the district are based in Falam Town, some 150 miles through mountainous terrain from Tedim and Tonzang.

“It should be promoted to the district level because it has enough population [to do so], and there is a need to consider the geographical position of the area,” said Pu Gin Kam Lian, an MP and the ZCD party secretary.

He added that there is no direct bus between Falam and Tedim or Tonzang, making travel particularly difficult for both local people and government staff who need to visit the district’s administrative seat.

The proposition to create a Tedim District was put forward to the State Counsellor in December 2016 by an MP from Tedim Township—Pu Cin Sian Thang—and an MP from Tonzang—Pu Kam Khan Thang. They proposed it again during Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s trip to Chin State this month.  Currently, there are four districts in Chin State: Hakha, Falam, Mindat and Matupi.