10 groups call for an end to Burma's Kachin conflict

BURMESE PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN (LEFT) AND KIO CHAIRMAN ZAWNG HRA.

Concerned by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Kachin and northern Shan state, a number of important Kachin organizations have issued a statement on Tuesday which calls for an immediate end to all military aggression in all ethnic areas, including in areas where the Burmese government has been fighting the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

The statement was released to coincide with beginning of the latest round of talks between the Burmese government and KIO that will take place on Wednesday in China.  Fighting between the KIO and the government began last June when the Burmese army launched an offensive against the KIO, thus ending a 17 year ceasefire agreement.

Ten groups signed the statement which calls for the "initiation of politically meaningful dialogue between ethnic nationalities and Thein Sein’s government to achieve ethnic equality and self-determination."  The groups singing the statement included the All Kachin Students and Youth Union (AKSYU), the Kachin National Organization (KNO) and the Kachin Women's Association of Thailand (KWAT).

The statement called on President Thein Sein's government to let independent observers view the negotiations as witnesses and aim for an agreement that not only benefits "the two parties involved, but also protects the well-being of the people in conflict areas in the long-run."

The statement also calls on Thein Sein to allow aid groups to reach the nearly 60,000 internally displaced people made homeless by the conflict.  While the Burmese government has allowed humanitarian groups some access to displaced people sheltering in government areas, it has only allowed UN agencies one visit in 7 months to KIO territory, where the majority of displaced people have fled to.

With regards to the KIO, the statement calls on the group to aim for an agreement that reaches a "political solution that will guarantee the equality, safety and human rights of the people of Kachin State."

The statement also urged the KIO to ensure that "any future agreement with Thein Sein’s government must include the protection of Kachin communities’ interests, including natural resource management."

The statement also calls on the citizens of Burma "in whatever capacity, to join us in establishing a genuine and long-lasting peace."

The groups that signed the statement urged the UN and the international community to act as a mediator and observer of the conflict and seek access to refugees made homeless by the fighting.

The full text of the statement is below.

Statement on Dialogue between KIO/KIA and Thein Sein’s Government

The people of Kachin State have repeatedly attempted to engage in Burma’s political processes during the 17-year ceasefire between the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) and successive Burmese regimes. However, we have never been given the opportunity to hold political dialogue with these regimes or with Thein Sein’s government.

The people of Kachin State live in fear due to the massive presence of Burma Army troops, ongoing fighting and grave violations of human rights. Since 9 June 2011, more than 60,000 people have fled from the Burma Army’s offensives against the KIA. They continue to live in dire conditions without adequate assistance due to the Burmese government’s restrictions on humanitarian organizations.

Therefore, the undersigned Kachin organizations call for an immediate end to offensives in Kachin State and all ethnic areas, and the initiation of politically meaningful dialogue between ethnic nationalities and Thein Sein’s government to achieve ethnic equality and self-determination. We would like to make the following calls regarding the ceasefire negotiations and political dialogue process:

To the people of Burma:
We call on:
•    The citizens of Burma, in whatever capacity, to join us in establishing a genuine and long-lasting peace. We encourage all citizens to learn about the root causes of ethnic   conflict in order to overcome the government’s publication of misrepresentative information about ethnic peoples’ struggle for equality and self-determination, as in the state-run media.
•    Community Based Organizations and activists to mobilize and collaborate in nationwide peace campaigns; and systematically prepare for ceasefire monitoring procedures. 
•    Media to accurately report on ceasefire negotiations and ethnic peoples’ struggle.

To Thein Sein’s Government:
•    Set substantial agreement points that not only seek to benefit the two parties involved, but also protect the wellbeing of the people in conflict areas in the long-run.
•    Allow independent international observers to participate in the negotiations as witnesses.
•    Allow the involvement of Community Based Organizations, international organizations and other local organizations in monitoring mechanisms, in order to observe whether both sides comply with their ceasefire agreement.
•    Allow access of international humanitarian and local organizations to provide emergency assistance programs for people displaced by armed conflict.
•    Seek solutions for national equality and establishment of true federal union, which are the root causes of civil war, through political dialogue.
•    Cease publication of misrepresentative information about ceasefire negotiations and ethnic peoples’ struggle for equality and self-determination in state-run media.

To the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army:
•    Prepare detailed points to be discussed during negotiations in order to achieve a political solution that will guarantee the equality, safety and human rights of the people of Kachin State.
•    Learning from the past ceasefire, any future agreement with Thein Sein’s government must include the protection of Kachin communities’ interests, including natural resource management.
•    Allow the involvement of Community Based Organizations, international organizations and other local organizations in monitoring mechanisms in order to observe both sides’ compliance with the ceasefire agreement.
•    Cooperate with international humanitarian organizations on reintegration and rehabilitation programs for people displaced by armed conflict.

To the United Nations and the International Commun:ity
The United Nations and the international community must play a strong role in facilitating national reconciliation by:

•    Acting as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations.
•    Pushing for the establishment of monitoring mechanisms to ensure both sides abide by the ceasefire agreement.
•    Establishing a Commission of Inquiry in order to investigate human rights violations against local civilians, and push for the establishment of mechanisms to provide justice and end impunity.
•    Pushing for access to be able to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to civilians in conflict areas.
•    Supporting and cooperating with Community Based Organizations to implement reintegration and rehabilitation programs for civilians displaced by armed conflict.

On behalf of:
•    All Kachin Students and Youth Union (AKSYU)
•    BRIDGE
•    Kachin Centre
•    Kachin Development Networking Group
•    Kachin Environmental Organization
•    Kachin National Organization 
•    Kachin Women's Association – Thailand
•    Kachin News Group
•    Life Vision Foundation
•    Pan Kachin Development Society

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Naw San, General Secretary of AKSYU:             +66 (0) 84 811 9594       
or aksyumaesot@gmail.com
Mr. Naw Din, Editor of Kachin News Group:             +66 (0) 89 431 3200       or editor@kachinnews.com