Burmese Language
Kachin rebels refuse to invite Suu Kyi to mediate peace process
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), who is currently negotiating a precarious ceasefire deal with the government, has rejected a plea by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be formally invited to mediate talks between the groups.
In an interview with DVB, KIA spokesperson La Nan insisted they would not “directly or formally specify individuals based inside the country to join and assist the peace talks with the government,” including Suu Kyi.
Earlier this week the democracy icon offered to mediate talks between the parties in an effort to stave off criticisms over her silence on human rights abuses carried out by the Burmese army in the conflict-torn northern state. But she insisted that she would need to be formally invited to join the process.
“There have been questions and criticism directed at me over my non-involvement in the Kachin crisis. I’ve always been saying this – I do want to get involved and I am ready to take part in the process if I am wanted – I have officially stated this for a while,” she said in a speech marking Burma’s union day.
Union day celebrates the day her father, Aung San, successfully negotiated the historic 1947 Panglong agreement with the majority of Burma’s ethnic minority groups, which set the framework for a federal state. The military government later rejected the agreement.
But the Kachin leader cast doubt on Suu Kyi’s ability to mediate the process with impartiality as a member of parliament under Burma’s controversial 2008 constitution, which directly violates the 1947 agreement.
“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi currently has responsibilities as a representative in the lower house as well as for her democracy leader epithet. It’s contentious when a parliament representative is going to help mediate the situation,” La Nan said.
Some civil society groups have also expressed disappointment over her offer to act as a “neutral” mediator, according to Burma Campaign UK. “[Many ethnic groups] always thought they were on the same side as Aung San Suu Kyi, against a common enemy, and with a common goal, democracy and human rights,” said Mark Farmaner.
Suu Kyi has previously courted controversy for repeatedly proclaiming her “fondness” for the Burmese military, formed by her father, despite ongoing human rights abuses in ethnic minority areas, including Kachin state.
“She has to study more about the ethnic issue and the conflicts in Burma,” Moon Nay Li from the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand told DVB. “Some issues she does not understand. She has to study the ethnic issue, including the Panglong agreement and what the ethnic people want.”
The KIA, who is fighting for greater autonomy and ethnic rights, has been locked in a bloody battle with government forces in northern Burma since June 2011, when a 17-year ceasefire broke down.
Emergency peace talks were held on 4 February, after Burmese troops stepped up its military assault using airstrikes and heavy artillery on the isolated rebel stronghold Laiza squeezed against the Chinese border. Analysts say the Chinese government fear an influx of Kachin refugees into their territories and have pressured the Burmese government to negotiate a swift ceasefire.
According to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) — the KIA’s political wing, the Chinese government was directly responsible for the latest peace talks. “KIO didn’t have direct contact with [government peace negotiator] U Aung Min for that – the Chinese government arbitrated the meeting. So we didn’t have time to invite the UNFC [the United Nationalities Federal Council] officials,” said La Nan referring to an umbrella organisation for ethnic groups in Burma.
But Dr Min Zaw Oo, who is a leading ceasefire negotiator and director of the Myanmar Peace Center, told DVB that the Karen National Union and the Restoration Council of Shan State – two leading ethnic groups who have recently inked peace deals with the government – played a key role in setting up the peace talks. Both groups acted as observers at last week’s talks held in the Chinese border town Ruili.
He also denied allegations that the government had excluded Suu Kyi from the ceasefire process. “There has been no rejection – as far as I understand the government has opened an opportunity for everyone to take part in the peace process.”
La Nan added that it would be the personal responsibility of Suu Kyi, and every other citizen, “to help solve the country’s political problems”. “We are not going to urge anyone to join but we welcome all individuals who see it as their responsibility to join the process.”
The KIA is due to meet again with the government and ethnic leaders, including the UNFC, in Chiang Mai in Thailand on 20 February in an effort to end hostilities. The Kachin have repeatedly called for a political solution, including self-determination based on the Panglong agreement, as a key provision for sustainable peace.
Additional reporting by DVB staff.
Tags: ethnic conflict, Kachin, kia, kio
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Ethnic minorities in Burma have never trusted the Burman. It’s nothing new that the KIA does not trust Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Since the colonial times, ethnic groups like Kachin, Karen and Chin have been deeply propagandized and brainwashed by the British through religion and other means. The reality is that all these ethnics like Kachin and Karen hate the Burman and the Burmese government, but they love the British. They have always preferred to live under the British. Pathetic! The British also on the other hand keep on their imperialist tactics of divide and rule. This article clearly articulates this. And so-called Burma Campaign UK is in fact a bunch of neo-colonialists! Not only these campaigners but journalists like the one who wrote this are the real culprits behind the racial violence in Rakhine State. It is the very British way of disintegrating their former colony!
We should have federal state as agreed in Pinlong agreement. Each state should have the right to leave the Union if they want also and equal status if we want to stick together. We should not stick the states with guns.
Aung San Suu Kyi have to walk the tight rope. Not easy for her and have to be careful. People dont notice and put the blame on her for not taking black or white position. Remember military can take over the country anytime if they want. You can’t make enemy out of them at this time. You have to be diplomatic and join some part to get what you want and get some trust also. Today, she and her party is only minority and oposition party in this rigged parlement only. People thing she should be able to solve everythng. Maybe that day may come when “real” democratic parties are in parlement.
Hope our country will be prosperous and freedom and peaceful one day with everyone equally treated.
For lasting peace, Bama state or current military backup a Burma government and bama nationalists must honor Panglong Agreement and comply Federal union that brings equal rights and respect other’s rights (any member state’s rights of Ferderal union). Any state of Federal union must stop forcing other state’s fundamental rights and respect other member state’s fundamental federal rights. No state of Eerderal union is above the law to occupy other states. Federal system will save the lasting peace and a true union. Feudal Imperialism will destroy the true union.
Suu Kyi is totally irrelevant. She has no role to play whatsoever in the future of Burma. she was put up bu ex-coloniser. that is all.
that is absolute truth.
Will DVB censor this message?
Will DVB respect freedom of expression?
Will DVB stand to reason?
We shall see.
DASSK is no more qualified to handle any ethnic issues. She missed a golden opportunity for the country and all ethnics. She lost her credibility in the last six to nine months. Time and Tide do not wait for anyone. At best, she can only be a Chief minister of Magwe, Pegu , Irrawady or Mandalay region.
Reply comment of Ko Ye’s ethnics hate on Burman. We ethnic are mistreated by Burma long history. The Mon the Arakan, the Shan and the Karen very far back before English colony. Do you know how the MaikTeelar Kan (MaikTeelar Dam) which slaves were built it? We are not hate you Burman but our generations had gone through many oppressions from Burman and their Kings and to date by Generals. Do not look at current problem, please find out why they want to keep distance from you Burman. All ethnic love and live hormonally with each other but the Burman wants lion’s shares in every aspects. That’s your problem and solve the root causes of the problem first and not pointing your fingers to others.
Okay, at least we need a leader or leaders to lead the country. So.. who is better than Daw Su? Who is clever than her? I see no one until now.
@Kml2013, SuuKyi is qualified for nothing! a mere third class degree, which actually is a fail, consolation degree.
She never had any credibility.
@Ko Ye, you are absolutely right colonist brainwashing and divide-and-rule by religion and promotion of ethnic conflicts. English tactics will rebound on them. British is a misnomer. Scotland will be independent and Ireland will be united.
However, Ko Ye, it is not true that all ethnic minorities hate Bamars. that is the impression created by the colonists and neo-colonists. and some Bamars like the “Bama” guy suck up to it. why Panglong? Even in Britain, where there is no written constitution, the current parliament cannot bind future parliaments.
How come dead Clement Attlee can bind living sovereign Burma?
Panglongists are most stupid. What Burma needs is county system based on the traditions.
Unbelievable stupidity for a country the size of an egg, sandwiched between two giant neighbours to have federalism.
Federalism is treason!
What adminin skills do the ethnic minorities have? should there be any minority at all? No! In our Great Burma everyone is absolutely equal to everyone else regardless of ethnicity. We do not internal colonies as a legacy of evil Panglong.
there are alos economic and administrative reasons against Panglong. How can the Bama guy be so blind? So ignorant!
Whenever we deal with the realities of Burma, we should not forget that the history of Burma doesn’t start with the invasion of British colonization. Yet, Burma appeared as Today Burma, due to Pinlong Agreement. Unless Non-bamar ethnic nationalities signed this Pinlong agreement, Chin, Kachin, Shan and Karenni states and some part of eastern Karen state will never be part of Today Burma. They had never been under the Burmese domination.
Simply shows desperation to be relevant trying to get in the game. But she has in fact been in the game all along. Only on the wrong side. And she has effectively declared it is the side she will forever be.
It does remind one of using tamed (recently tamed at that) elephants to try to tame the wild one taking along the trophies of KNU and SSA zombies.
Whether the KIO/ KIA leadership now would also be corrupt enough to buy them out as well is irrelevant.
The hurt of the past two years and the prospect of desecrating the ancestral land for the Chinese and the international business communities’ benefit is so deep and monumental that Kachin public will forever be thorn in the side of the Bamar hegemony.
Reason for the talks is simple.
Chinese wants all but with not a single Kachin landing in her land.
And it is the Burmese, deep in Chinese debt, to make it happen at the cost of tens of thousands of lives.
No one is interested in peace, only in keeping it quiet.
Every peacemakers are not invited one, but volunteers.
So, to be a peace maker it is not necessary of invitation. It is very simply to understand.
Only lawyer are invited by clients.
I totally believe to Aunty Su.Is there any person like her in the coutry working for democracy movement? Aunty Su is still the democracy icon for all of us. Because of her non-violence movement and keep existence for democracy initiative, the situation is being transformed in a better way leading towards democracy country.
i am the same what min said .there is not anyone like amay su in our country .u all who are critisite our mon i only can say that u all are no worth like dust from a may foot .
Stupid guys fail to grab the best options among the many good alternatives. ASSK has once again chosen the best path for the country and its no surprise that some are beginning to throw harsh critics on her. These people are in fact nothing better than the late Than Shwe and his associates. Everyone has to choose side if we want to achieve something we think is good, and so SHE has made the right decision and we the majority fully support it. Don’t worry when you guys see the MAJORITY, I don’t mean the Bama or any other nationalities BUT the majority of the whole population.
Min & Aung , Don’t be sad. Daw Su is working practically, they are airing without experience. All Insultings think yourself ” how much do you have experiences, study and philosophy lik her. Please don’t feign. You need to study Who are KIA/O and WA. They said USA come to watch but No for DASSU, These 2 point are showing what are they. They are not from country but absolutely from YUNAN,China. They are not different fron Illegal Bangali. They are Illegal Chinese too. We don’t need to be quarrel DASSU, she know to handle. No effective effort don’t need to act. If act , the result will be bad.
Ko Ye: You’re wrote too right. Previously in Military government we couldn’t say the truth. Now our government changed but no country couldn’t change an old accustommed system to a different new system. But step by step will be. Speed will be according to the ability of people. Ethnic minorities think the west the great, but not Burma. ACtually , They don’t know about other people than Burmen. But they don’t know all about Burman too. In Rangoon, most of the people are not pure Burma. All different kinds of people are staying with notice about who is what nationality and ethnic. No Kayin, Kachin, Mon and every are same. Those insergents only accusing discremination.