The Kachin Independent Organization (KIO) issued a terse statement on Friday condemning the army's shelling of a training ground near Laiza 48 hours earlier that resulted in the death of 23 cadets and injured 20 more.
“We (KIO) are very concerned and strongly condemn this action, the intentional shelling of a training school. It shouldn't have happened in this situation as we are attempting to de-escalate the crisis by all means,” said Lah Nan, the KIO's chief spokesperson.
The KIO conducted a funeral service on November 20 for 23 cadets who were killed by army shelling believed to have been fired by the Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion (Kha-Ma-Ya) 389 from Hka Ya Bum mountain.
Hla Maung Shwe a senior official with the government controlled but western funded Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) hopes that the deadly incident will not set back the peace process back.
“I don’t think the peace talks have been ruined”, he said. “It is important to find a resolution through negotiation,” Hla Maung Shwe added.
La Nan says that the KIO will continue the peace talks. “The KIO and all other groups have the same mind to continue with the peace talks, we don't want to stop the process with one incident, but their (Burmese forces) troops are still moving forward towards us,” said the KIO’s spokesperson.
Col Khun Okker, a senior representative with the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an alliance of armed rebel groups that includes the KIO echoed his colleagues’ comments.
“There should be a warning when they begin, but now this is like stabbing us from back,, an act of a coward. It’s bad . .. especially at this point in the ongoing peace talks,” the veteran Pa-O leader said.
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