Kahins in America protest military offensive on KIA

Kachins in California (USA) staged a protest on June 24 against the military offensive on Kachin people by the Burmese Army.

“We have gathered to express our grave concern for our family members and friends in our homeland. They are under extreme oppression by the Burmese government,” said a statement released by Kachins in California.

The protesters demanded that the Burmese government stop crimes against civilians and begin a political dialogue and talks on the 2nd Panglong Initiative.

They also urged the Chinese government to open their border and provide humanitarian assistance to war refugees and permit international aid agencies to enter its territory. They also wanted the Chinese government to persuade the Burmese government to hold a dialogue with ethnic groups. It also wanted China to stop supporting the Burmese government.

Protesting Kachins urged the US government to ‘extend and expand the Burmese Freedom and Democracy ACT (S.J.RES. 17) and begin a pragmatic engagement with a progressive timeline’ and ask China to talk to the Burmese government to stop attacking ethnic groups.

“The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) of Burma, has not made any progress in implementing democratic principles or respecting human rights,” said the statement.

More than 20,000 Kachin refugees have fled to the China border since the civil war began on June 9 between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese Army.

Demonstrations and protests against the civil war in Kachin State were held around the globe on June 24 as in United States, United Kingdom, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Denmark.