by N'gun Ja Wa on Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 9:50pm ·
It
has never been official KIO policy for independent Kachin since 1970s.
It has always asked for greater autonomy within the Union of Myanmar
or Burma as a constitute federal state. But demands were never properly
addressed by successive Burmese military and civilian governments.
Instead ethnic politicians were given prions terms along with U Nu by
Gen Ne Win, when the military staged a coup in 1962.
Formerly the KIO was formed to separate form the Union in their formative years. It reversed its stance around 1972-74 to demand for a federal Union Burma ever since. It is stated official policy of KIO.
KIA has fought vicious civil war with the successive governments.Neither side is winning the war. Either side can't defeat the other. So, ceasefire was signed in 1994 anticipating a political solution. No real political dialogue was forthcoming. The KIO attended the Nyaung Na Pin conference to submit their proposals along with 13 other ceasefire groups. The ethnics proposals wasn't even in agenda. The KIO came home disappointed. In any case, fast forward, the KIO rejected the BGF proposal by SPDC like all other major armed ethnic groups.
Yet, there was a reasonable peace in Kachin state for 17 years. However, the newly elected quasi-civilian government didn't handle the KIA well. The government fired the first shot for the renewed conflict in June 9th 2011 on the pretext to create a security perimeter around the Chinese built hydro-electricity plant, which is deep inside KIO administered areas.
Things are out of control now. To stop the current escalating conflict, all we need is from the government to stop sending fresh reinforcements around KIA controlled areas. Only can we start political dialogue. (as you are well aware, there is no concrete promise by the Government to begin political dialogue with any of the current "cease-fired groups yet)
The conflict is in abating as recent as December 24th, 2012, the KIA was given ultimatum by Brig-Gen Tun Tun Naung of Northen Military Command to withdraw from KIO military post just 12 miles (20 km) from Laiza, KIO administrative HQs by Christmas day. Laiza also house more than 70,000 Kachin IDPs, who will suffer the brunt of the Burmese Army atrocities. It was seen by many Kachin inside Burma/Myanmar and diaspora as one of the most outrageous provocation as most Kachin are mainly Christians.
As no less than 40 rounds of 105 mm Howitzer and numerous rounds of 120 mm mortars are shelled on positions around Laiza everyday for the past few days, major government offensive against Laiza is expected in coming days.
Anyone familiar with Burma issues for the past decades will tell you there is no military solution to Burma ethnic jigsaws. Burma ethincs conflict are some of the longest in the world. Then, why is the so-called reform minded President Thein Sein government launching one of the largest military operation since 1995. Officially, Burmese Government is not at war with KIA, as the President said so on various occasions. The situations on the ground is on the contrary. The Radio Free Asia news reported this morning that two farm workers are dead and several other are injured from the government mortars shells. Where is the Burmese military headed? To wither the KIA once and for all? But at what price?
The KIO now have reasons to believe that the Burmese Army for is here for the kill and not in the mood to have a political dialogue. So, the question is why is the Burmese Army using more than 120 battalions to deal with the KIA while alienating hundred and thousand of Kachin civilians. If this continues, it will reach to a boiling point where they will be no turning back on both sides. Kachin civilians will suffer as collateral damage. Let's give political dialogue a chance.
N'gun Ja Wa
Formerly the KIO was formed to separate form the Union in their formative years. It reversed its stance around 1972-74 to demand for a federal Union Burma ever since. It is stated official policy of KIO.
KIA has fought vicious civil war with the successive governments.Neither side is winning the war. Either side can't defeat the other. So, ceasefire was signed in 1994 anticipating a political solution. No real political dialogue was forthcoming. The KIO attended the Nyaung Na Pin conference to submit their proposals along with 13 other ceasefire groups. The ethnics proposals wasn't even in agenda. The KIO came home disappointed. In any case, fast forward, the KIO rejected the BGF proposal by SPDC like all other major armed ethnic groups.
Yet, there was a reasonable peace in Kachin state for 17 years. However, the newly elected quasi-civilian government didn't handle the KIA well. The government fired the first shot for the renewed conflict in June 9th 2011 on the pretext to create a security perimeter around the Chinese built hydro-electricity plant, which is deep inside KIO administered areas.
Things are out of control now. To stop the current escalating conflict, all we need is from the government to stop sending fresh reinforcements around KIA controlled areas. Only can we start political dialogue. (as you are well aware, there is no concrete promise by the Government to begin political dialogue with any of the current "cease-fired groups yet)
Bri-Gen Tun Tun Naung of Northern Command at a recent preliminary talk with KIO peace delegation
The conflict is in abating as recent as December 24th, 2012, the KIA was given ultimatum by Brig-Gen Tun Tun Naung of Northen Military Command to withdraw from KIO military post just 12 miles (20 km) from Laiza, KIO administrative HQs by Christmas day. Laiza also house more than 70,000 Kachin IDPs, who will suffer the brunt of the Burmese Army atrocities. It was seen by many Kachin inside Burma/Myanmar and diaspora as one of the most outrageous provocation as most Kachin are mainly Christians.
As no less than 40 rounds of 105 mm Howitzer and numerous rounds of 120 mm mortars are shelled on positions around Laiza everyday for the past few days, major government offensive against Laiza is expected in coming days.
Anyone familiar with Burma issues for the past decades will tell you there is no military solution to Burma ethnic jigsaws. Burma ethincs conflict are some of the longest in the world. Then, why is the so-called reform minded President Thein Sein government launching one of the largest military operation since 1995. Officially, Burmese Government is not at war with KIA, as the President said so on various occasions. The situations on the ground is on the contrary. The Radio Free Asia news reported this morning that two farm workers are dead and several other are injured from the government mortars shells. Where is the Burmese military headed? To wither the KIA once and for all? But at what price?
The KIO now have reasons to believe that the Burmese Army for is here for the kill and not in the mood to have a political dialogue. So, the question is why is the Burmese Army using more than 120 battalions to deal with the KIA while alienating hundred and thousand of Kachin civilians. If this continues, it will reach to a boiling point where they will be no turning back on both sides. Kachin civilians will suffer as collateral damage. Let's give political dialogue a chance.
N'gun Ja Wa
