Burma army and KIA battle in southern Kachin state

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(KNG)
Clashes between the Burma army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) broke out in the Bhamo district of southern Kachin state earlier this week.

Two separate clashes took place at the abandoned Du Hku village located in an area controlled by KIA Battalion 27 (under KIA 3rd Brigade) on June 18 and 19 when government troops from Infantry Battalion No. 240 entered KIA territory, according to Salang Kaba Doi Pyi Sa, head of the local refugee and relief committee.

The first clash happened on Tuesday evening and lasted about 15 minutes. While the second clash took place Wednesday morning and lasted a little bit more than 20 minutes, said a KIA officer from the group's 3rd Brigade when contacted by the Kachin News Group. Both clashes occurred in about the same place.

“The Burmese troops intentionally made aggressive maneuvers towards the KIA post, so fighting broke out,” said the officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. There were no dead from either sides but troops from both sides sustained injuries, said the officer who requested anonymity.

The troops from IB No. 140 troops were joined by troops from Light Infantry Division No. 99, who had recently traveled to the area from Mansi (also Manje).

The fighting took place near Mai Ja Yang, the second largest town controlled by the KIA's political wing the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). Mai Ja Yang is also home to thousands of internally displaced people (IDP). The fighting did not appear to threaten the safety of the IDPs said Doi Pyi Sa.

“The clashes happened although there is a process agreed to by both parties towards reducing the conflict. The conflict will continue if government forces continue to venture into KIO territory” he added.

The fighting stopped when the Burmese troops retreated from the area and returned to their base located in Kai Htik.

At the end of May a delegation from Burma's government and the KIO signed an agreement in which they both agreed to decrease military tensions and work towards peace. The agreement was not a ceasefire however and some fighting has continued to occur, in particular in northern Shan state.

Kachin peace marchers departed for Laiza from Myitkyina on June 21 carrying a Buddha statue and a Christian cross made of bullet shells collected during their journey to Laiza.

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Kachinlandnews Portal at Laiza, Kachin State

Religious symbols made of bullets departed for Laiza

By KLN

Published on June 21, 2013

Kachin peace marchers departed for Laiza from Myitkyina on June 21 carrying a Buddha statue and a Christian cross made of bullet shells collected during their journey to Laiza. The group included 6 monks and 37 Buddhists and Muslims laymen, said a source in Myitkyina.

The statue is 12-inch tall and made of 13 peittha (about 3.6 lb) of bullet shells and the cross is 12-inch tall.

U Win Cho, a leader of peace marchers, said “Laiza residents agree to keep the cross at Laiza Catholic Church but we are not very sure about the Buddha statue. If the residents are not prepared to accept the statue, we will bring back and deliver it to Maj General Min Aung Hlaing”. He said the intention of making a cross and a statue is to cause repentance by seeing the value of bullets used during the battles and to see their transformation from bullets to religious symbols.

Kachin locals who are mostly Christians expressed their objections to bringing religious symbols to Laiza as they are concerned of political problems in Kachin region turned into a religious one.

http://kachinlandnews.com/?p=23381

Kachin Global Day of Action in USA....

Kachin Alliance's photo.

Federalism is key to genuine peace

Statement by 60 organisations, 07 Jun 2013


60 Kachin community organisations and Burma campaign groups worldwide in 21 countries will take part in a Global Day of Action today to mark the 2nd anniversary of military attacks by the Burmese government against the Kachin Independence Army and Kachin civilians breaking a 17- year ceasefire.

It has been two years now since the Burmese Army broke the ceasefire with the Kachin Independence Army, which resulted in continuous military attacks on a daily basis and human rights abuses against Kachin civilians. During the military attacks, the Burmese Army targets civilians. This constitutes a war crime. Human rights abuses committed by the Burmese Army documented by the United Nations could also qualify as crimes against humanity. Kachin civilians have suffered from human rights violations, including rape of women and children, arbitrary execution, torture, forced labour, mortar bombing, burning and looting of villages. More than 100,000 Kachin civilians have had to flee from their homes to refugee camps and internally displaced areas. The Burmese government continues to restrict access for humanitarian aid to thousands of Kachin refugees. International humanitarian aid is still needed for the IDPs through local relief organisations.

The Global Day of Action highlights the human rights abuses in Kachin areas including widespread sexual violence against ethnic women used as a weapon of war without any repercussions. They are also calling for the establishment of a federal democratic Burma to guarantee a durable peace.

There will be peaceful demonstrations, letter- writing and events in various countries across the world targeting respective governments to put pressure on President U Thein Sein to stop the attacks against the Kachin and commit to a political solution based on the principle of federal democracy and equal rights for ethnic nationalities.

In Burma, various actions will take place where peace activists will lay wreaths at the Independence Monument and there will be a peace demonstration at Inya Lake followed by interfaith prayer event, organised by the Kachin Peace Network together with other community-based organisations.

In the UK, the Kachin community and Burma Campaign UK will hold a protest outside the British Foreign Office to urge William Hague, UK Foreign Secretary, to highlight the issue of rape and sexual violence committed by the Burmese government’s forces, and press for federal constitutional reform in Burma.

Although there have been some peace negotiations, there is little progress from the government side to commit to a genuine ceasefire and negotiate on the political root causes in a meaningful way. While the Kachin and other nationalities suffer under the military-backed government, the international community continues to ignore the horrific human rights abuses and has instead rewarded the government by lifting most key sanctions. We strongly urge the international community to actively participate in any future peace negotiations and political process.

“The root cause of the conflict in Kachin State is the lack of national equality based on the current constitution. Without a political solution which is the formation of a federal democratic Burma that guarantees self-determination for the Kachin and all ethnic nationalities, there can never be a durable peace in the country”, said Gawlu La Awng from the Foreign Department of the Kachin Independence Organisation.

The following organisations support this Global Day of Action:
1. Actions Birmanie (Belgium)
2. All Kachin Students and Youth Union
3. Altsean-Burma
4. ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC)
5. Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC- Philippines)
6. Association Suisse-Birmanie (Switzerland)
7. Austrian Burma Center (Austria)
8. BurmaInfo (Japan)
9. Burma Action Ireland
10. Burma Aktion (Germany)
11. Burma Campaign Australia
12. Burma Campaign UK
13. Burma Centre Delhi (India)
14. Burma Partnership
15. Center for Peoples Dialogue (Srilanka)
16. Chin Human Rights Organization
17. Christian Solidarity Worldwide
18. Dignity International (Global NGO)
19. European Karen Network
20. Forum for Democracy in Burma
21. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
22. Free Burma Coalition-Philippines
23. Human Rights Education Institute of Burma
24. IMPARSIAL, the Indonesian human rights monitor (Indonesia)
25. Info Birmanie (France)
26. Institute for Asian Democracy
27. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
28. Inter Pares (Canada)
29. Jinghpawland Cultural Exchange Committee
30. Kachin Association Australia (NSW)
31. Kachin Alliance, USA
32. Kachin Canadian Association (KCA)
33. Kachin Community in Europe
34. Kachin Community in New Zealand
35. Kachin Development Group (KDG)
36. Kachin Environmental Organization
37. Kachin Literature and Culture-Singapore
38. Kachin National Organization
39. Kachin Peace Network
40. Kachin Refugee Committee - Malaysia
41. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT)
42. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
43. Kayan Women’s Organization (Karenni)
44. Mae Tao Clinic
45. Mon Youth Forum (MYF)
46. Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO)
47. Nationalities Youth Forum (Burma)
48. PaxRomana ICMICA Asia
49. People’s Forum on Burma(Japan)
50. Project Maje, Portland Oregon USA
51. Queensland Kachin Community Inc (QKC)
52. Rohingya Arakanese Refugee Committee (RARC), Malaysia
53. Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma
54. Shwe Gas Movement (SGM)
55. Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization
56. The Arakan Observer Group
57. The Best Friend Burmese Library
58. US Campaign for Burma
59. WunpawngNinghtoi (WPN)
60. Pan Taung Township Farmers Network


http://burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/news-stories/federalism-is-key-to-genuine-peace-statement-by-60-organisations/1

Kachin conflict ‘perfect storm’ for human trafficking

Pushed to the Brink

A new report by a Kachin women’s group says that the ongoing conflict in northern Myanmar between government forces and the Kachin Independence army (KIA) has created what they have termed “a perfect storm” of conditions for human trafficking along the Sino-Myanmar border. The report, titled “Pushed to the Brink,” was launched on June 5 by the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT). It details how the displacement of over 100,000 people over the past two years, a lack of refugee protection, and shortages of humanitarian aid have become significant new “push factors” fuelling the trafficking of Kachin women to China, already a long-standing problem.+++++read more+++

Ongoing Impunity continued Burma army atrocities against Kachin people

Our short film, Ongoing impunity: Atrocities Against the Kachin People, documents interviews with villagers who have suffered human rights violations by the ...

Harvard plan to restart Irrawaddy dams will not buy peace

By KDNG   A recent proposal by a Harvard University think-tank to restart the Irrawaddy-Myitsone dam project in order to “power the peace process” in Kachin state fails to address the political root causes of the conflict.    The proposal recommends a new tripartite business agreement to build the seven Irrawaddy headwater dams, letting the Kachin state government become a new shareholder together with the Myanmar and Chinese governments.     It is proposed that the business partnership and “substantial revenues” granted to the Kachin state government would persuade Kachins to support the multi-dam project, and “hasten real peace in Kachin and possibly other states”. This proposal incorrectly suggests that money is at the root of opposition to the dams as well as the current conflict. The real root cause is the Kachin people’s lack of decision-making power under the previous and current unitary constitutions.    This lack of power has resulted in decades of exploitation of our natural resources, causing widespread land confiscation, forced relocation, loss of livelihoods and social problems in Kachin State. These experiences have taught us that only the political power to manage and control our own resources will protect our lands and livelihoods, and ensure that development will benefit local people.     “Business deals are no substitute for political reform,” said KDNG spokesperson, Ah Nan. “The Kachin conflict can’t be solved by money. We want self-determination, and the right to decide how our own lands and rivers are managed.”   The paper suggests that the new deal will also benefit China, as they will be able to restart the project, and enjoy increased electricity at “below wholesale prices,” as well as have “enhanced pipeline safety” for their controversial Shwe gas pipeline.   The paper, funded by the Norwegian government, suggests adding another multi-national or bi-lateral aid agency as a minor partner in the Myitsone project. Norway has publicly stated its interest in hydropower investment in Burma.     The full paper “Powering the Peace Process” can be viewed on http://www.ash.harvard.edu/ash/Home/Programs/Institute-for-Asia/Publications/Journal-Articles-Occasional-Papers Contact Ah Nan - +66 84 8854 154 kdngchn@gmail.com, www.kdng.org To download                   :        : The full paper “Powering the Peace Process” , English ၊ Burmese To download statement :       : English ၊ Burmese

Religious persecution, rape still evident in Kachin State

by/ Mizzima News

A UNHCR-supported camp in northern Myanmar for people displaced by conflict in Kachin state. Photo: UNHCR/A. Kirchhof

Sixty-six Christian churches have been burnt down in Kachin state since the conflict erupted in June 2011, according to the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand (KWAT), a figure that is backed by Myitkyina-based Kachin Baptist Convention.

Speaking at a seminar at Chiang Mai University on Friday, Julia Marip of KWAT said that the burning of churches by Myanmar government forces amounts to religious persecution.

Also on Friday, a group of Roman Catholic bishops in Kachin State called for peace.

According to website CatholicCulture, spokesman Bishop Francis Daw Tang of Myitkyina said, “As a church, we walk with our displaced people, watch their lives being destroyed by war, their families fragmented by the depressing life in the displaced camps.”

He accused government forces were waging “unequal warfare” on Christian holy days.

Kwat’s Marip said there are now 100,000 people displaced by the conflict in Kachin State, 60,000 of whom are sheltered at the Sino-Myanmar border or other areas under Kachin rebel control, and 40,000 in areas under government control.

Marip said her organization had continuing evidence of systematic rape by Myanmar troops against Kachin and other ethnic women. She said KWAT had recorded 30 incidents where 64 women or girls had been sexually assaulted in Kachin State since the conflict began.

“But there could be many more cases that we have not been able to document,” she said, explaining that NGOs were unable to make contact with many rural areas and villages under government control.

“Half of those women raped were killed afterward,” she said.