Kachins mark Martyr Day with re-commitment to revolutionary goal

Kachin people commemorated Martyr Day early this morning and re-committed to their revolutionary goal.

The Kachin people formed the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) under Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) on February 5, 1961, in Northern Shan State, with the goal of secession from the Union of Burma. However, that goal was changed into self-determination, in 1976.


The remembrance services were held in both public and military wings in all territories of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), in Kachin State and Shan State, people in the KIO controlled areas said.

In Laiza, the KIO capital in eastern Kachin State, the public commemoration was held for an hour at the Woichyai Manau Wang Compound, with over 500 participants, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), participants said.

Fallen KIO/KIA leaders and soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Kachin people and their land, and current men and women serving in the KIO and KIA, were prayed for in public by participants during the ceremony, said Rev. Gun Seng, of Laiza Baptist Church.

In western Kachin State, the commemoration was held with special programs at the KIA’s Battalion 6 Headquarters, in Seng Ra, in Hpakant, the world famous jade mining town, with over 200 participants from different places, local participants said.

All fallen KIO/KIA heroes were honoured by the placing of remembrance wreaths at the Martyr Mountain near the Battalion 6 area before the morning remembrance service, added a local participant.

After hearing the KIO Martyr Day message, participants prayed for the KIO/KIA which can successfully lead the Kachin people to achieve their revolutionary goal, participants said.

The Kachin Martyr Day commemorates the August 10, 1975, anniversary of the assassination of KIO/KIA leader G.O.C, Lahtaw Zau Seng, by the KIO/KIA itself- under the plan of the central Burmese government, KIO officials said.

However, the commemoration is also held in the KIO/KIA and Kachin communities abroad every year, since official recognition was made by the KIO in 2009.

During the 1961-1993 civil war with the Burmese government, over 3,000 KIA soldiers and over 30,000 Kachin civilians died, according to KIO officials. Over 7,000 Burmese soldiers also died.

The 17-year truce between the Burmese government and the KIO ended when government troops started offensives against the KIO at the KIA’s Battalion 15 area, in Taping (Dapein) Dam, near the China border, in Manmaw (Bhamo) District, on June 9.

Now, renewed fighting between the Burmese Army and KIA in Kachin State and Northern Shan State has escalated into full-scale civil war in the country’s north.