Burmese Language
Army readies for large-scale Kachin assault
Several boats carrying Burmese troops have been seen arriving in the Kachin state town of Bhamo in recent days, adding to fresh deployments of soldiers to the frontline in lieu of an offensive against Kachin rebels.
Fighting has continued into the new year despite orders from President Thein Sein in December for the army not to launch attacks on the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). La Nan, the group’s spokesperson, said that six clashes broke out on Tuesday alone.
Troop presence has “visibly increased”, he continued, claiming that around 600 soldiers had been mobilised some 20 miles from the KIA’s headquarters in Laiza, on the border with China.
The continuing military build up points to an apparent split between the government and army, which is headed by the hawkish Min Aung Hlaing. Both he and Thein Sein were high-ranking figures in the former ruling junta, but since he took office the president has taken a more moderate path in his attempt to appease international critics.
Sceptics of the reform programme point to the ongoing fighting in Kachin state as a signal that the proclaimed intentions of the Thein Sein administration are not shared across the board. As yet little is known of what fallout will result from the army’s apparent refusal to accede to the president’s demands.
After months of stalling, the government has however allowed tentative access to some of the 50,000 refugees displaced by the fighting, a UN convoy arriving in Laiza in December to distribute aid.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is currently in Burma on an historic two-day visit, pledged to provide aid to the Kachin refugees, and reportedly offered British assistance in mediating a ceasefire between the two sides.
Several attempts at brokering a truce have occurred since fighting began in June last year, but so far have seen little success. La Nan said the KIA was “ready for political talks when there is a chance” and that fighting would steadily ease as negotiations progress.
“It wouldn’t be right to abandon dialogue just because clashes are ongoing. Our idea is to just focus on the talks, which are important.”
The government has also approached the Chin National Front (CNF) in northwestern Burma for peace talks, although little is known of the discussions. The CNF took up arms after the 1988 uprising, and last year joined the United Nationalities Federal Council, an umbrella group of ethnic armies.
Tags: burma, kachin independence army, myanmar, William Hague
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People of Burma, please don not abandon Kachin!
Dear Kachin News:
There is concerned about KIA central command if it is heavily under attacked.
Then,the question is: “What is KIA “Exit” strategy if their central command post to falls?”
In my view, it is best way to blow up the “Dams” as KIA “Exit” strategy. This will be justified where there were no moral value in military background government.
KIA should not have to worry about something or someone because KIA had already asked for help to those neighbouring country in this concerns in the conflict matter.
KIA survival is more important than anything else.
Is that change policy of Thein Sein ??Is that peace process ?? Is Killing Democratic principle ??
How can we expect any change from these Ne Win’s war house brain children ??
Top brass of Burmese army goal is to maintain fighting even they know that is not solution.As long as civil war and ethnic crisis bigger, government reliance on army is deeper. That the way(founding father GEN.NE WIN way) army can control the government.
If my boss says stop fighting, I will have to stop it. He is after all responsible and answerable for any consequences. Why army can not do it ? You are obeying the order and that is what you have pledged for your country and the boss. Let us unite and no more fighting from now onward but regular meets and discussions only amongst family.
Under this so called civilian government things are supposed to be better it quite apparent to the world thing are just as bad. Human rights abuses are still happening on a daily basis, Thitsaphout Thein Sein is no different than his murdering boss Thitsaphout Than Shwe.
Brothers and sisters in every part of Burma were ever you are march against this evil regime, free Burma from the oppression which this evil murdering regime has shackled Burma with for fifty years. Don’t just take your fight into the hills take it into the cities. No longer should you be prisoners in your own country
It is high time that the likes of Min Aung Hlaing., off-springs of the military hierarchy created by Ne Win, realize that in a country that is pursuing true democracy, politics has to lead and the military has to follow and abide by the decisions and orders of the government and not vice-versa. The refusal to do so accounts to treason and mutiny that calls for the death sentence in most countries. It’s also time that the “ DSA “, the military educational institution for the chosen elites to change their curriculum and include the way to democracy in place of Marxist and Leninism literatures so that their future graduates change their ways of contemplating and comply with present times. They have to be trained and taught that the military’s first and foremost duty is to protect the country and it’s people instead of waging war which has to be reserved in the face of foreign aggression or invasion.
Wallace Hla
How does it justified? A powerful army assault upon a weak monority ethnic people on their own land? Why is UN, West countries, Aung San Suu Kyi and opposition Democracy silent on the Kachin issue? How can we be just if we are silent on unjust treatment upon Kachin people? Speak out against unjust war of greed and development. Respect the rights of our ethnic people. Keep the federalism drem alife. It is the duty of every decent humanbeing.
I feel sadden and hopeless about this issue. How can the talks be fair if the Burmese army keep on building up to intimidate and threaten ? Old tactics are still being used …. point with gun underneath negotiation table.
It is always inhumane when people happen to quench the thirst of warmongering, establishing greater influence of one’s soverign state, power and wealth, while being oblivious to more importantly stabilization of the country’s economy and co-existence with different ethnics. It is also a shame on the Civilian Government representing Myanmar majority when the order to truce cannot be kept. Myanmar Armed forces have launched a warfare on ethnics armed guerillas for decades without firm reasons because no minor ethnics guerillas have slicked into capital cities for a plot of massive killings in retaliation for the government’s offensive warfare and brutal killings conducted in ethnic-cleansing warfare. The world today keeps up with negotiations, talks, dialogues, compromises, and mutually recognizable measures through which to restrain from “gun diplomacy” at large.
Nay-Pyi-Daw is starting to be loosening its boundary and soverignty because its fierceful and ferocious military tactics have adopted fear in people of ethnic minorities. At the same time, its strategic warfares exerted on these peoples will create more unity of multi-ethnics armed forces strong enough to repel Myanmar armed troops’ offensives one day in the near future.
Civilian Government today should have built up on more dignity with what any government unlike before could not implement. Unnecessarily practicing lengthy major warfares on all ethnics groups will make their back turned against all Myanmar people creating bitterness and yet their underlying frustration toward all Myanmar people across the board, and underming all future constructive approaches to peace talk when needed.
“An unjust peace is better than a just war,” Marcus Tullius Cicero.
Yes, the final bullet for KIA in case of losing their HQ is to blow up the controversial dam which will deservedly vindicate them. Now it is almost certain for the world to know that Burma vice president Tin Aung Myint Oo is the main stumbling block ( thorn in the flesh ) for president Thein Sein to make change in Burma.
The aftershock of wars everywhere on earth were, are and will always be followed by sporadic fighting, destructions, murders and insecurity.
KIA will never lose this war against tyranny in Burma as losing weapons is never a defeat. KIA nationalism is sharpened by this war and will come back stronger.
*The above editorial has been replaced herewith for one typo. I do apologize to you all for any inconvenience. Thomas Shein, New York.
It is always inhumane when people happen to quench the thirst of warmongering, establishing greater influence of one’s soverign state, power and wealth, while being oblivious to more importantly stabilization of the country’s economy and co-existence with different ethnics. It is also a shame on the Civilian Government representing Myanmar majority when the order to truce cannot be kept. Myanmar Armed forces have launched a warfare on ethnics armed guerillas for decades without firm reasons because no minor ethnics guerillas have slicked into capital cities for a plot of massive killings in retaliation for the government’s offensive warfare and brutal killings conducted in ethnic-cleansing warfare. The world today keeps up with negotiations, talks, dialogues, compromises, and mutually recognizable measures through which to restrain from “gun diplomacy” at large.
Nay-Pyi-Daw is starting to be loosening its boundary and soverignty because its fierceful and ferocious military tactics have adopted fear in people of ethnic minorities. At the same time, its strategic warfares exerted on these peoples will create more unity of multi-ethnics armed forces strong enough to repel Myanmar armed troops’ offensives one day in the near future.
Civilian Government today should have built up on more dignity with what any government unlike before could not implement. Unnecessarily practicing lengthy major warfares on all ethnics groups will make their back turned against all Myanmar people creating bitterness and yet their underlying frustration toward all Myanmar people across the board, and undermining all future constructive approaches to peace talk when needed.
“An unjust peace is better than a just war,” Marcus Tullius Cicero.