Burma marks 64th Independence Day with continued offensive against KIO

A KIA SNIPER TAKES POSITION AT ONE OF MANY FRONTLINES IN WAINGMAW TOWNSHIP, EASTERN KACHIN STATE.

As Burma's nominally civilian government marked the country's 64th Independence Day, Burma's armed forces continued to wage war against ethnic minorities in Kachin and northern Shan State.  Due to the army's continued offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) few if any people in Kachin and northern Shan State opted to celebrate the holiday, according to local residents reached for comment by the Kachin News Group.

In an official statement released for Independence Day, Burma's President Thein Sein stressed the importance of unity and solidarity among the country's multi ethnic population.  Despite this call for solidarity, the army continued to wage armed combat against the KIO in Manmaw (Bhamo) district, Waingmaw Township and Myitkyina Township in Kachin State, and Kutkai, Namtu, Muse and Nam Hkam townships in Northern Shan State.

Officials with the KIO estimate that the army currently has more than 130 battalions involved in fighting the KIO, in what is the largest military offensive in more than twenty years.  The army's advance has continued despite an official order from President Thein Sein made last December that called on the army to cease its offensive.

As a result of the fighting, more than 50,000 civilians have been forced from their homes with most opting to take shelter in a thin strip of KIO territory along the Burma-China border.  Most of the refugees have yet to receive any aid from international NGOs or UN agencies.

On December 12 the UN sent five Burmese staff from Rangoon to visit refugee camps located in Laiza home to the KIO's headquarters, however much needed humanitarian aid is yet to arrive, said Doi Pyi Sa who chairs the KIO’s IDP and Refugee Relief Committee.

The conflict between the army and the KIO began last June more than 3 months after Thein Sein's nominally civilian government took power from General Than Shwe, when the government opted to unilaterally terminate a 17 year ceasefire.

In January 1947, one year before Burma received independence from Britain, General Aung San signed a wide ranging agreement with leaders of the several major ethnic groups including the Kachin which outlined rights for Burma's ethnic minorities.  Shortly after the Panglong agreement was signed Aung San was assassinated, his successor U NU never implemented the agreement.

The KIO was formed in 1961 in reaction to the Burmese government's failure to implement the Panglong agreement.