Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Burmese soldiers steal djenkol bean from farms

A DJENKOL BEAN MARKET IN BURMA.

The Burmese military is stealing djenkol bean from farms in villages between Waingmaw and Laiza, according to farmers.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Burma Army takes two KIA posts

THE KIA BUM SEN POST, NEAR CHINESE DAPEIN (TAPING) DAM IN N'MAWK (MOMAUK) TOWNSHIP IN MANMAW (BHAMO) DISTRICT, WHICH FELL INTO BURMA GOVERNMENT ARMY IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) lost its Loi Ying and Battalion 15 posts to the Burmese military at about 12:30 pm, July 25.

Kachin women's group worries about the future for women and children

28-YEAR-OLD KACHIN WOMAN WAS GANG-RAPED ON MAY 1 BY BURMESE GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS IN CHIPWI TOWNSHIP IN NORTHEASTERN KACHIN STATE.

The Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) is very concerned for women and children suffering from the ongoing conflict in Kachin state.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Villagers forced off their land by businessmen

LASANG AWNG WA (LEFT) AND ITS TROOPS.

Villagers from Bwi Daw claim two businessmen have forced them off their land at gunpoint.

Residents say Lasang Awng Wa and U Min Nyo have confiscated their land near Mali Hka River in Kachin State to expand a Djenkol Bean tree and fish farm.

Earthquake destroys buildings near Indawgyi Lake


 A powerful earthquake destroyed a Baptist Church and homes near Indawgyi Lake (also known as Nawnglut) located in the western part of Mogaung Township.

Five Burmese troops killed by KIA bomb attack

kACHIN ARMY HAS BEING RESISTED THE HEAVY OFFENSIVE OF BURMA GOVERNMENT ARMY SINCE 9 OF LAST YEAR.

Five Burmese soldiers have been killed and several others were injured from a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) bomb attack in Bankawng Mu, on July 24. The village, which is located between Myitkyina and Bhamo (or Manmaw), is patrolled by both KIA and government forces.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Brang Shawng's judge warns his lawyer not to share information

BRANG SHAWNG, A KACHIN IDP AND KIO CIVILIAN, WAS DETAINED BY BURMESE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES ON JUNE 17.

Testimony from Brawng Shawng’s trial which has been reportedly leaked to Kachin media has prompted judge U Myint Htoo to order his lawyer Ma Hka to not share information from court proceedings with the public.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Kachin children sick with flu in Chinese refugee camp

KACHIN WAR IDPS WHO ARE ILLEGALLY SHELTERING IN LAH YING IN CHINA, OPPOSITE LOIJE IN BURMA'S NORTHERN KACHIN STATE.

Ten-children in Nakawng Kawng refugee camp in China have a flu believed to have originated from mosquito bites.

A school teacher at the camp said the children are getting sick after being bit by mosquitoes.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Putao residents suffering from food shortages

A KACHIN BAPTIST CHURCH IN PUTAO DISTRICT IN KACHIN STATE, NORTHERN BURMA.

Food prices are rising in Putao making life even more difficult for residents of the town in northern Kachin State.

Heavy rain is causing flooding in Hpakant

FLOODING IN HPAKANT JADE MINING FIELD IN KACHIN STATE, NORTHERN BURMA.

Heavy rain has raised the Uru Hka River water levels causing heavy flooding in the homes near jade mining operations in Hpakant township in Kachin State, northern Burma.

A resident said the flooding which started on July 16 is making life hard for everyone involved.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Kachin man still missing after being arrested by Burmese military

JAU FA YING, A CHINESE VILLAGER OF YI HKU WAS ARRESTED AND TORTURED BY BURMESE GOVERNMENT TROOPS ON JULY 1.

An innocent villager from Yi Hku village in Pangsai, (or Kyukok) Township, northern Shan State, who was arbitrary arrested by the Burmese military on July 1, is still missing even though authorities claim they released him.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Kachin Peace Network says crisis accommodation in China side IDP Camp


PA KAHTAWNG CAMP NEAR KIO-CONTROLLED MAI JA YANG ON BURMAR-CHINA BORDER.

Members of the Rangoon-based Kachin Peace Network say much more needs to be done to help Kachin internally displaced persons (IDPs) both in Burma and China.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Draft law on gem work in Kachin state completed

JADE AND HPAKANT MINING FIELD.

The first draft regarding how gem work in Kachin state will be legally conducted has been approved.

A secretary from the Myitkyina Gem Trade Association was very happy with the new draft.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Chinese authorities allow Nongdao Kachin IDPs to continue to stay

KACHIN WAR IDPS IN LAYING CAMP IN CHINISE TERRITORY, OPPOSITE LOIJE BORDER TOWN IN KACHIN STATE, NORTHERN BURMA.

Chinese authorities have officially announced refugees living in two Nongdao internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in China can stay.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Lahtaw Brang Shawng forced to confess to bombing charges


 Lahtaw Brang Shawng who was arrested by Burmese authorities in Jan Mai Kawng Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp under suspicion of being part of a bombing operation and having contact with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on June 17 is being forced to take responsibility even though many people say he’s innocent.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

No money available for Kachin language curriculum translation for primary school

KACHIN SCHOOL BOOK FOR GRADE ONE.

Kachin language curriculum instructors are finding it increasingly difficult to translate primary school curriculum from Burmese into Kachin after funding which was promised has not been made available.

Military intelligence officer absent during Brang Shawng court proceedings

AN IDP BRANG SHAWNG WAS DETAINED IN THE CAMP IN JA MAI KAWNG BAPTIST CHURCH IN MYITKYINA BY POLICE AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ON JUNE 17.

Military Intelligence Officer Kyaw Zwa Lin, who is a plaintiff in the Lahtaw Brang Shawng trial, was ordered to appear in court after a judge summoned him for examination.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Chinese company tries to gain the support of locals to restart Myitsone dam project

MR. LU QIZHOU, PRESIDENT OF CPI

Representatives of China Power Investment (CPI) have been visiting the homes of Kachin civilians relocated by the controversial Myitsone dam project to rally support for restarting the project postponed by President Thein Sein last on September 30, 2011.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

KIO wants ‘political dialogue’ with Burma government not ‘ceasefire talks’

MA-GEN GAM SHAWNG, CHIFF OF STAFF OF KIA.

LAIZA, Burma — The leadership of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Burma's last major armed ethnic group still engaged in armed conflict with the central government, say they want a formal ‘political dialogue’ to begin with Burma's retired General Thein Sein's government and will not take part in "ceasefire talks".