KNO (USA) na amu madu Salang Nsang Gumsan gaw United Nation kaw press conference galaw nhtawm Kachin State a masa lam hpe sang lang dan nna, UN kaw nna lapran tsap ya nhtawm simsa bawngban jahkrup ya na matu hpyi shawn lai wa sai. "CURRENT KACHIN CONFLICT" ngu ai gabaw hte azing ayang sang lang dan wa sai lam chye lu ai.“Current Kachin Conflict”
Gum San N-Sang
Kachin National Organization (USA), Secretary
gumsan@kachinland.org
17 June, 2011
Synopsis:
Before USDP won completely rigged election, SPDC has intentionally arrested 23+ KIA servicemen and put them behind bars in prisons across the Kachin State, Burma. Since the first arrest, KIA requested for the return of their servicemen as they were arrested arbitrarily. After KIA refusal to join the Border Guard Force, it began its campaign to pressure, threaten, and black list/rebrand the group as “terrorist” organization. Therefore, on August 30, 2010; KIA announced to ban SPDC members from entering its autonomous area as agreed after 1994 cease-fire.
Kachin National Organization (USA), Secretary
gumsan@kachinland.org
17 June, 2011
Synopsis:
Before USDP won completely rigged election, SPDC has intentionally arrested 23+ KIA servicemen and put them behind bars in prisons across the Kachin State, Burma. Since the first arrest, KIA requested for the return of their servicemen as they were arrested arbitrarily. After KIA refusal to join the Border Guard Force, it began its campaign to pressure, threaten, and black list/rebrand the group as “terrorist” organization. Therefore, on August 30, 2010; KIA announced to ban SPDC members from entering its autonomous area as agreed after 1994 cease-fire.
Then, in 2008, Chinese firm China Datang Corporation (CDT) signed agreement with SPDC to build 2 hydro power plants on Ta-Paing River in KIA area without consulting with the militia authority. After refusal to join Border Guard Force by the KIA, Burma Army began demanding KIA to remove its nearby Sang Gang Post, near Ta-Paing Hydro Power Plants. Since the post has been there pre-crease fire period, and strategically located for the KIA, Kachins refused to budge in to the Burma Army’s demand.
Therefore, early this month; Burma Army’s Northern Command sent order to the KIA to remove its 15th Battalion post at Sang Gang by June 11th 12:00pm.
On June 8th, KIA arrested 3 servicemen of Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 437 (including 2 officers) who covertly entered into KIO’s restricted area to gather intelligence. At 5:00pm, Burma Army soldiers stormed into KIO liaison office in Sang Gang Village and arbitrarily arrested Liaison Officer Lance Corporal Chyang Ying.
On June 9th at 7:00am, 200 Burma Army soldiers marched into Sang Gang Post unannounced and started shooting at KIA troops. KIA shot back and fire fight lasted close to three hours. 3 Burma Army soldiers killed and 6 injured. And, 2 KIA soldiers injured. KIA negotiated with the Northern Command Burma Army to exchange 3 Burma Army captives for all of KIA servicemen captured in the past years and also Liaison Officer Chyang Ying. Burma Army replied that all other captives have been forwarded to the courts since we are the government that is governed by the rule of law. However, we still have Chyang Ying in our custody, and if desired he could be exchanged for the 3 captives in your custody. In good faith, KIA obliged to their request, and release the 2 officers and 1 private. When Chyang Ying was to be returned, five Burma Army soldiers carried his corpse to bring back his dead body. The Liaison Officer was inhumanely tortured and brutally beaten during interrogation and laid under the sun on the front lawn of the Burma Army post. Injuries done to Chyang Ying had no signs to indicate such treatment was done by a government that is governed by the rule of law at their custody. It clearly violated 3rd Geneva Convention’s Protection of POW.
3RD Geneva Convention, Part II. General Protection of Prisoners of War
Art 13. Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest.
June 11th, after the deadline by the regime to the KIA troops to withdraw from the post by 12:00PM was passed, it began ceaseless shelling Sang Gang Post by 4:00pm.
On June 12th, KIO withdrew its last Liaison Office in Kachin State capital Myitkyina along with its Buga Company which also supplies the primary source of electricity to the Kachin State Capital. Then, at around mid-night, Burma Army began rounding prisoners in Myikyina to be transported to frontline to serve as porter and mine clearing.
On June 13, a former minister contacted the KIO in the morning and asked for negotiation. KIO agreed to talk as soon as possible and asked the regime to respond by 12:00 PM. The minister insisted that the KIO first removes its forces from the area. Then, the minister failed to contact the KIO at 12:00 PM. As the deadline was passed, the KIO decided to alert all of its forces at the highest level and ordered them to launch full-scale resistant war.
June 14 and 15th, clashes began erupting in Western Part of Kachin state. Civilians have begun fleeing to KIO controlled area and neighboring China to avoid torture and captured by Burma army to serve as porter. Close to 10,000 has been reported to be internally displaced or seeking refuge in China.
June 16, KIA announced four other ethnic militias declared to join the struggle against Burma Army and report to escalate war to other regions of Burma. On the same day, KIA released a communiqué stating the following
1) KIA DESIRES TO END TYRANNY AND ESTABLISH A GENUINE FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
2) AFTER THE FALL OF TYRANNY, WE SHALL QUICKLY ACHIEVE THE TRANSPERENT AND JUST REPUBLIC WHICH WE ALL HAVE BEEN AWAITING
3) WITHOUT YOUR DESIRE, YOU HAVE ABANDONED YOUR FAMILY TO FIGHT IN THE FRONT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HANDFUL OF DESPOTS
4) KIA IS INVOLUNTARILY PLACED TO CONFRONT IN THE FRONTLINE TO FIGHT AGAINST BURMA ARMY
5) THEREFORE, WE OPEN OUR ARMS TO ALL RANKS TO JOIN US
6) THOSE WHO DECIDES TO FOLD THEIR ARMS TO THE KIA WILL BE GLADLY WELCOMMED AND WILL BE TREATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAWS
Forced Migration, Labor, Confiscation of Private Vehicles, School Closings
As the regime has tried to reinforce its troops to the conflict area, people in Bhamo, Waing Maw, and Myitkyina twnships are forcibly recruited to carry the weapons and ammunitions for the Burmese troops. Report emerged of prisoners at Kachin state prisons being sent to the frontline to serve as porter military supplies and hardware. Plenty of private vehicles are also forced to drive for the regime’s troops to transport supplies. Schools in Bhamo districts were closed due to escalating threat level.
Ethnic Alliance
Four ethnic resistance groups pledge to join the fight against the Burmese troops, said Brigadier General Gwan Maw. According to United Nationalities Federal Council General Secretary Mr. Nai Hanta’s statement, the groups are Shan State Progressive Party, Karen National Liberating Army (now include some factions of Democratic Karen Buddhist Army), Kerenni Army, and Chin National Front.
Armed Conflict Continues and Spreads
Fighting continued last night between the Burmese troops and KIA in Northern Shan State. The Burmese troops launched separate attacks against KIA’s 8th Battalion near Nam Kham and Nam Hpak Ka Townships and KIA’s 9th Battalion near Kutkai Township. KIA’s 27th Battalion also has clashed with the Burmese troops from Infantry Battalion No. 144th at nearby Shweli River, the site of the Shweli Dam (largest Chinese investment to date) and Hydropower Project. Apparently, the latest armed conflict between the regime and ethnic troops is spreading to other parts of Kachin State and Shan State. The regime also has closed roads from Bhamo and Myitkyina to Chinese border.
More Bridges Destroyed
In an attempt to prevent the regime transportation of its troops and weapons to the area, the KIA troops destroyed two more major bridges in Northern Shan State by explosives on the night of June 14. These bridges are Nam Hpak Ka Bridge on Mandalay-Muse Highway and Nam Hkrai Bridge, located on the Tamonye-Mongsi Road. To stop the advancing Burmese Army, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) under the control of Brigade 2 destroyed six bridges at 10 p.m. local time last night in Western Kachin State, Northern Burma. June 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. - A powerful bomb exploded on the N’myen Hka River (Natmyit Stream) Bridge on Myitkyina-Manmaw (Bhamo) highway road in Nong Ta Law village in Waingmaw Township at 8 p.m. local time.
More Refugees
Confirmed number of 9,758 villagers are now taking refuge at Laiza, KIO Headquarters on the China-Burma border, to avoid the armed conflict and forced porter recruitment by the regime. KIO set up the Refugee Assistant Committee and it is providing necessary assistant to these refugees. About 800 refugees are hiding on the China-Burma border, nearby Yingjiang in Yunnan Province, as they are not allowed to cross the border by Chinese security forces. More than 2,000 Kachin refugees still remain in Longchun District in China. Hunger and food shortage are reported in displaced areas. Having to flee during rice growing season (Monsoon), the threat of famine appears imminent in Kachin civilian population in near future.
War Refugee and Internally Displaced People Numbers
1. Civilians IDP in Laiza - 1327
2. Civilians IDP Hpunlum yang - 310
3. Civilians IDP Mungseng yang - 138
4. Civilians crossing to China via Dumbung zup - 300
5. Civilians IDP Hpalap, Na Ru - 54
2199
South East Kachin State Refugee Numbers
1. Civilians crossing to China N-hkawng Pa - 600
2. Civilians crossing to China via Loije - 4238
3. Civilians crossing to China via Manwing - 2000
4. Civilian IDP in Sinlum District - 721
7559
Total - 9758
More Regime Troops
The regime has now dispatched three Light Infantry Divisions (LID) to the conflict area in Kachin State. LID 33,based in Sagaing, Sagaing Region , LID 44, based in Thaton, Mon State, and LID 66, based in Innma, Shan State, with about 3,000 soldiers are now being transported to Kachin State by trains, ships and trucks. It is to believe that the regime will launch a major offensive against the KIA soon.
Kachin Students Ordered to Leave Rangoon
Local authorities have ordered 19 Kachin students in Thanlyin Township, Rangoon to return to their hometowns in Kachin States by 6:00 PM today, according to a member of the National Democratic Force party. Police and Township Administrator Moe Khine informed the order to leave to the students, aged ranging from eight to 20, to return to Putao Township, Machanbaw Township, and Sumprabun Township in Kachin State where they came from. They are attending schools (primary, middle, high and University) in Thanlyin Township, and living in Bogyoke Village-Track since two years ago. The authorities said they will not renew temporary resident permits to all of them, which are about to be expired. Students are planning to appeal to the District authorities.
KACHIN PEOPLE’S DEMANDS
Kachin demands to the UN:
1) UN denounce and demand Burma Army to stop assault against Kachins
2) Dispatch envoy to serve as a negotiator between Kachin and Burma Army
3) Send UN mission to protect crime against unarmed civilians
4) Dispatch UNHCR team to Chinese Border
Kachin to China:
1) Demand Thein Sein government to halt attack against Kachins
2) Pressure Burmese government to find political resolution via dialogue
3) Provide food, shelter, and safety to refugees
Kachin to all UN missions:
1) Pressure Chinese to demand Thein Sein government to halt attacks against Kachin
2) Talk with United Nationalities Federal Council of Burma members and Aung San Suu Kyi to prevent civil war
3) Send AID teams to assist in humanitarian efforts
For the War to end:
1) Begin 2nd Pang Long with Aung San Suu Kyi Leadership
2) Establish diplomatic mission with Opposition group
3) Transition to genuine democratic system with equal rights for all ethnic groups in Burmese Federal Union
Conclusion:
Kachin arrived to current watershed moment after countless attempts to resolve political stalemate through dialogue. Since the day KIA began cease-fire in Feb. 24th, 1994; they have repeatedly requested to begin political dialogue. State Law and Order Restoration Council recommended Kachin to participate in National Convention, so KIA participated. SLORC was transitioned into SPDC in 1997 and deferred the dialogue to the New government. When the new Union Solidarity Development Party government took in office, the first thing demanded was to transform KIA into Border Guard Force and fold into their command as police force. When KIA refused to their demand, pressure was mounted to resort to renew conflict. Should current conflict were to cease and revert back the old order of simply to stop fighting and pursue one sided diplomacy, next 17 years of peace and tranquility shall go a waste. Burma does not need temporary peace or stability, it needs genuine federal system of government which adheres to democratic principles and protects the rights of minorities and disenfranchised. This could prevent all ethnic groups from revolting by arms and Burman majority from repeating Saffron revolution hence avoiding the scenario of volatile State.
Meanwhile, China which repeatedly denounces foreign intervention in internal conflicts must understand the significance of its involvement in Burma’s national politic could potentially destabilize the region and beyond. Should Chinese Navy continue to expand its presence in Burma’s domain beyond Ko Ko Island and frequent stops in Rangoon onto inner Burma of Mandalay and Bhamo, Kachin State. It should pose as a direct threat to any of its western neighbor as the port of Bhamo, Burma is less than 200 miles from Palel, Manipur State, India. A reciprocal response from India could potentially redevelop tensions which could ensue into major regional and beyond geo-political implications and global trade. In this grand scheme of things, a quick and fast stead response to current Kachin and Burma Ethnic conflicts with the current USDP government appears practical to be contained immediately.
Source :http://www.kachinland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=362:un-press-conference-hte-knous-slg-nsang-gum-san-kawn-current-kachin-conflict-ngu-ai-hte-sang-lang-dan&catid=50:activities&Itemid=83
No comments:
Post a Comment