In response to your recent public
comments in the United States regarding the conflict and human rights
violations in Kachin State, Kachin communities world-wide would like to
take this opportunity to invite you to visit internally displaced people
(IDP) forced to live in makeshift camps in Mai Ja Yang, Kachin State.
The government of Burma, which you are now an elected member of, broke
the 17 year-long ceasefire in June 2011 to annex Kachin Independence
Organization (KIO) controlled areas. From this time, the Burmese army
has not only launched full-scale war against the Kachin Independence
Army (KIA) but also committed genocide and other heinous human rights
violations deliberately attacking innocent civilians. The direct
military actions by the Burmese army in a clear violation of Geneva
Conventions have resulted in the forced displacement of 100,000 Kachin
civilians to date.
Human rights abuses committed by the Burmese army against our people
include rape and gang-rape against women and even children, the elderly
and disabled; killing many victims of sexual violence; arbitrary
executions; torture; mutilations; beatings; forced labour; mortar
bombing and burning of villages; looting of villages and other thefts;
and use of child soldiers many of which constitute war crimes and crimes
against humanity. Given the climate of violence, fear and suffering our
people are enduring everyday, it is disheartening not to hear you
speaking out against injustice for those who have been forcibly silent,
instead you declared you have a soft spot for Tatmadaw that your father
founded, the very institution that is responsible for such miseries.
As you and your fellow parliamentary members are well aware, the
government of Burma is not providing emergency relief and is refusing to
allow the free delivery of humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of
internally displaced people in direct and open violation of
international law. In your position as Chair of the Lower House of
Parliament’s Rule of Law Committee you have the power to initiate and
the responsibility to minimize the immense suffering of Kachin IDPs that
includes women and young children who are suffering from malnutrition
and other illnesses without sufficient medical or education facilities.
We Kachin had looked to you to speak out about the abuses being
committed against our people at least based on humanitarian grounds as
you were once silenced by the same regime and were eventually triumphant
by unwavering voices of freedom. If you were to speak out, the
international community would listen, all the people of Burma regardless
of ethnicity or religion will stand up for the wholesale principles of
democracy and human rights. As a renowned champion for human rights, by
not condemning the abuses in Kachin State you are not only condoning the
state-sanctioned violence, but you exemplified to the masses in the
country that the notion of conditional human rights is tolerated.
We are concerned by your comments at the London School of Economics in
the United Kingdom, June 2012, when you stated that there was a need to
establish the facts of the root cause of the Kachin conflict. Further,
in your meeting with the Burmese Community in the USA on 22nd September,
you stated: “Basically, what is it that I have to strongly condemn? If
it is a human rights violation as well as any acts of breaching the rule
of law then I will strongly condemn.” You are yet to take a stance on
the human rights abuses taking place in Kachin State, your statement,
combined with the comments you made at the LSE gives the impression to
the people of Burma and international community that you do not believe
human rights abuses are taking place.
Many international human rights organisations including Human Rights
Watch, and international media including the BBC have reported and
verified that heinous abuses are committed against the Kachin population
by the Burmese army. In March 2012 the United Nations Special
Rapporteur stated he had reports of:
“…attacks against civilian populations, extrajudicial killings, internal
displacement, the use of human shields and forced labour, and the
confiscation and destruction of property. He has also received reports
of gang rapes by army soldiers, although the numbers provided by
different sources vary. In the report of the Secretary-General on
conflict-related sexual violence, it was noted that as many as 32 women
and girls throughout Kachin State were allegedly raped by the military
between June and August 2011.”
Given the seriousness of the situation outlined above we invite you to
visit Mai Ja Yang, where the majority of the IDPs are taking refuge and
protection by the KIO. You will be able to hear directly from the
victims about the human rights abuses that have been committed against
them. You will see for yourself the suffering caused by the Burmese
government’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid into these areas. As you
often refer to your father General Aung San in your political speeches,
we do hope that you uphold his promise for the Union of Burma where all
ethnic people including Burman will be equal. As an elected MP and
daughter of General Aung San, talk of “unity” while staying silent on
the suffering of the ethnic masses will only polarize the country
further.
All of those who believe in the cause of human rights and democracy in
our country must work together. We must all make efforts to restore
trust, and therefore in the spirit of Panglong we extend this invitation
to you. You are now able to travel all over the world and speak openly
to large audiences. We request that you also travel to Mai Ja Yang in
Kachin State, and witness first-hand what is taking place in Kachin
State to advocate for the ordinary citizens who are suffering at the
hands of their own government. We have trust in you that you will
recognize the urgency and importance of this request and not refuse the
invitation.
The undersigned Kachin organizations
1. All Kachin Students and Youth Union (AKSYU)
2. Kachin Canadian Association
3. Kachin Women's Association Thailand (KWAT)
4. Kachin National Organization (KNO)
5. Kachin Association of Australia (KAA)
6. Kachin Centre-Thailand
7. Kachin Refugee Committee- Malaysia (KRC)
8. Kachin National Organization (KNO-Japan)
9. Kachin National Organization (KNO-Denmark)
10. Kachin Christian Fellowship (KCF-Denmark)
11. Kachin National Organization (KNO-USA)
12. Kachin National Organization (KNO-United Kingdom)
13. Kachin National Organization (KNO-India)
14. Kachin National Organization (KNO-Malaysia)
15. Kachin National Organization (KNO-Australia)
16. Kachin Community in United Kingdom
17. Kachin Community in Sweden (KCS)
18. Kachin Community in Netherlands (KCNL)
19. Kachin Association Norway
20. Kachin Alliance (USA)
21. Pan Kachin Development Society (PKDS)
22. Queensland Kachin Community
23. Singapore Kachin Community
For more information, please contact:
· Gumsan (USA), 001 ( )443 415 8683
· Dr. Nawmai Maran (USA), 001 ( ) 402 990 2553
· Naw San (Thailand), +66 (0) 848119594
· Moon Nay Li (Thailand), +66 (0) 856251912
· Hkahpa Tu Sadan (UK), Mobile: +44 (0) 7538 258961
