Nov. 15 Kachin letter to President Obama

November 15th, 2012
Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW; Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

The Kachin community in the United States offers our heartfelt congratulations on your re-election and wishes you every success as you continue leading our great nation for another four years. We are writing this letter to you as fellow Americans.

We wish to convey to you our sentiments regarding your impending visit to our homeland, Burma. This trip has historic implications not only because it is the first visit by a sitting US President, but also because it has potential for pressing the government of Burma to enact further democratic reforms and achieve national reconciliation. In the light of these, we want to express the following concerns:

Visiting the country at this juncture might provide legitimacy to a government which has one of the worst human rights records in the world, especially in respect to our kinsmen, the Kachin, living in northern Burma.

Premature engagement with a government which remains to fund the army that currently terrorizing innocent civilians and Internally Displaced Persons could undermine the United States’ stature and integrity.

These potential outcomes could further marginalize minorities in Burma and destabilize the country.

Despite widespread reports of political reform, Kachin civilians continue to suffer grave human rights abuses under the current quasi-civilian government backed by the Burma Army. They continue to commit ethnically motivated war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially our families and friends, as documented by respected human rights organizations. These crimes have intensified since the breakdown of the government’s 17-year ceasefire with the Kachin Independent Organization in June of last year. Within the course of a year, this ongoing offensive has displaced over 90,000 Kachin civilians, the majority of whom are now living in two dozen camps along the Chinese border. These civilians live with constant fear and uncertainty and in dire need of the most basic human needs. Nevertheless, the administration of President Thein Sein continues to block much needed aid by making it impossible for international organizations to provide assistance to internally displaced civilians. In addition, innocent Kachin continue to suffer arbitrary arrests, harassment, interrogation, and detention by government authorities.