Burmese community in India protests against civil war in Kachin State

Kachin people and other ethnic activists based in New Delhi, India protested at the Jantar Mantar from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today against the military offensive launched by the new Burmese government’s army on Kachin State

Organized by the Kachin Refugee Committee (KRC), New Delhi based Kachin, Burmese, Chin, Arakan and Karen refugees launched the protest against the ongoing military offensive by Burmese troops in Kachin State and the abuse of civilians by way of rape, torture, killing and porter usage.

The demonstrators demand that the international community help the refugees fleeing to the Chinese border with no NGO providing aid and support yet.

Burmese community in Indian capital New Delhi protested against U Thein Sein-led Burmese government for starting civil in Kachin State.



It also urged the international community to pressurize the new Burmese government to halt the civil war perpetrated on the Kachin armed group the Kachin Independence Army and all other ethnic people.

The Thailand based Kachin Women’s Association-Thailand (KWAT) has said, they have confirmed 18 rapes committed by Burmese soldiers during their military offensive on the Kachin Independence Army/Organization (KIA/O).

Of the 18, four have been killed accounting for three girls and one woman. The woman was raped and killed in front of her husband The Burmese soldiers took the husband as porter said KWAT.

According to the latest information there are over 20,000 Kachin refugees who have fled to the China border controlled areas of the KIO. More refugees are fleeing afraid of torture, abuse and being killed by Burmese troops.

Refugees sheltered in Laiza headquarter of KIO said they fled to the border because they were afraid of being used as porters by Burmese troops.

Fighting began between the KIA and Burmese Army on June 9, 2011 following 17 years of ceasefire.

The Burmese government had been pressurizing KIA to disarm and change to the Border Guard Force (BGF) under its command since 2009. From 2010 military tension has been brewing between them after the KIA refused the proposal of the military backed Burmese government.

Burmese government brought an end to the relationship with the KIO in October 15, 2010 and the state run newspaper the New Light Of Myanmar dubbed them as an ‘insurgent’ group and started preparing for military action on the KIA by sending more troops and heavy weaponry to Kachin State.

Protest against the military offensive on Kachin State is being held across the globe such as in United State, United Kingdom, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Denmark among others.