Burmese authorities block evacuating Kachin war refugees

Burmese president Thein Sein

About 100 Kachin war refugees in the isolated Putao district of Burma’s northern Kachin state have been blocked by local government authorities, according to sources from a local church.

The group of mostly women and children have been hiding in nearby forests since fighting broke out between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) near Nhka Ga village in Machyangbaw Township in the middle of last week. The refugees are unable to evacuate to designated 'safe places' and are being denied aid.

According to Kachin Baptist Church sources, evacuation has not been authorized by the Military Strategic Command (MSC) of Putao district.

Lamai Gum Ja, a member of Myitkyina-based Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG), told KNG that PCG has contacted Maj-Gen Tun Tun Naung, commander of Burma Army Northern Regional Military Command, requesting permission to evacuate the villagers.

PCG further requested that both the Union government and the Kachin Independence Organization halt all combat in the zone immediately.

Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samsun, a general secretary of Myitkyina-based Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) told KNG that KBC is very concerned for the trapped villagers, who have not received any assistance or aid from the government or NGOs.

If evacuation is authorized, the trapped villagers can only access nearby Machyangbaw town and Nawng Hkai village from Mali Hka river, said Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samsun.

Kachin state government held a media briefing in Myitkyina on Wednesday claiming that aid will be directed to the displaced villagers under the command of U Hpung San, the head of the Putao military strategic command and a legislator from Machyangbaw.

Fighting broke out in the area between Mali Hka river and Chyai Hka river when a combined group of troops from Burma Army Infantry Battalion No. 137 and a local pro-government militia led by Danggu Tang (also known as Ahdang), attacked a KIA Battalion 7 post near Nhka Ga on Aug. 29, according to pro-KIO blogs.

PCG, the peace negotiation group led by Kachin tycoon Yup Zau Hkawng has warned both the government and KIO that the continued conflict in Putao will hinder the upcoming peace discussions between the two parties later this month, said Lamai Gum Ja.

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