Kachin exiles condemn Suu Kyi's silence on conflict

BURMESE DEMOCRACY LEADER SUU KYI RECEIVED THE US CONGESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL IN WASHINGTON ON SEPT,19.

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's recent claim that she was refraining from commenting on the army's ongoing conflict with the Kachin Independence Organization because she does not want to inflame the situation, brought a swift rebuke from an international coalition of Kachin exiles, who heavily criticized the NLD leader in an open letter sent on Thursday.

OPEN LETTER TO DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI

AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN US TRIP

In response to your recent public comments in the United States regarding the conflict and human rights violations in Kachin State, Kachin communities world-wide would like to take this opportunity to invite you to visit internally displaced people (IDP) forced to live in makeshift camps in Mai Ja Yang, Kachin State.

KNO urges UN action on Kachin conflict

UN SECURETY GENERAL BANKI-MOON

The Kachin National Organization (KNO), a group representing Kachin political exiles sent an open letter on September 23 to UN Chief Ban Ki Moon calling on the UN and the international community to take “direct action” in response to the escalating conflict in Kachin and parts of north west Shan states where Burma's armed forces is fighting with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Accused KIO member Brawng Shawng faces hostile court

BRANG SHAWNG WAS ARRESTED FROM IDP CAMP IN JAN MAI KAWNG BAPTIST CHURCH IN MYITKYINA, KACHIN STATE.

The trial of Brang Shawng, a 25-year-old refugee jailed since June for being an alleged bomber from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), continued last week under the watch of Judge U Myint Htoo, who has been described as extremely hostile to Brawng Shawng and his lawyer Ma Hka.

Time for Thein Sein to come clean about Burmese losses in Kachin state

WEAPONS AND UNIFORMS FROM BURMA MILITARY COLUMN WAS DISPLAYED AT THE LOST GOVERNMENT POST BY THE KIA IN THE FRONTLINE IN BHAMO (MANMAW) DISTICT IN KACHIN STATE, NORTHERN BURMA.

 Senior officials from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) have told the Kachin News Group that the number of Burmese troops who have died during the now 15-month long Kachin conflict is in the thousands and could be as high as 10,000. The KIO's own estimates are said to be very rough and the KIO does not appear to be confident enough in these figures to publicly release them.  Because of the very nature of the hit and run tactics used by the KIO's armed wing the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) against the Burmese military, it is very difficult for the KIO to calculate Burmese losses.

88 leader Min Ko Naing visits war torn Hpakant jade district

SEPT,16-18,88 GENERATION STUDENT LEADER MIN KO NAING AND COMRADES WERE GREETED BY VILLAGES SOF LAY PYIN IN LAWNG HKANG IN HPAKANT TOWNSHIP STATE. PHOTO: KACHIN NEWS GROUP

This week Burma's famed student leader Min Ko Naing and four colleagues visited western Kachin State's Hpakant (or Hpakan, Phakant) jade mining district, the recent seen of heavy fighting between government forces and the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Kachin in US to boycott Suu Kyi congressional ceremony

BURMA PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI ORGANIZED KACHIN PEOPLE IN MYITKYINA, THE CAPITAL OF KACHIN STATE BEFORE THE APRIL BY-ELECTION IN THE COUNTRY. PHOTO: KACHIN NEWS GROUP.

Leading members of the Kachin community in America with the Kachin Alliance USA (KA-USA) have publicly declared their intention to boycott the Congressional award ceremony for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The ceremony scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Washington DC will see Aung San Suu Kyi receive Congress' highest award.

Student rebel dies during Kachin battle

ABSDF HEADQUARTERS IN LAHKUM BUM NEAR LAIZAR, THE CAPITAL AND HEADQUARTERS OF KACHIN INDEPENDENCE ORGANIZATION.

Aye Maung Shin, a member of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) died on Monday after being hit by a shell fired by Burmese military forces while stationed at a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) post near Laja Yang, an area close to the group's Laiza headquarters.

Hpakant's jade war heats up in western Kachin state

A KACHIN SNIPER IN HPAKANT JADE MINE IN WESTERN KACHIN STATE, BURMA. PHOTO: KACHIN NEWS GROUP.

The last four weeks have seen a significant increase in fighting between Burma's military and members of the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) in the Hpakant region of western Kachin state, home to the world's best source for true jadeite. The heavy fighting in Hpakant is a direct consequence of the the military's campaign to prevent the KIO from profiting from the area's lucrative jade trade.

KIO-Burma army clashes erupt along rail line in Southern Kachin state

THE KIO'S ARMED-WING KACHIN INDEPENDENCE ARMY TROOPS HAVE RESISTED THE FIERCE OFFENSIVE OF BURMA GOVERNMENT FORCES SINCE JUNE 9 LAST YEAR.

Over the past two weeks fighting between Burmese military forces and members of the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) spread to southern Kachin state near Sagaing division, an area relatively untouched so far by the military's 15-month offensive against the KIO.

KIO captures strategic Burma army post in Pangw

CAPTURED SEAPONS FROM BURMA MILITARY IN EARLY THIS MONTH IN WAINGMAW TOWNSHIP IN EASTERN KACHIN STATE BY THE KIO'S BATTAION 3 SOLDIERS. PHOTO: JINGHPAW MOVEMENT.

Early Monday morning troops loyal to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) captured a militarily strategic post previously held by government forces near Pangwa, according to an announcement from the KIO that was published on a pro-KIO website. 

Kachin man feared dead after Burma army throws him in mine pit

BURMA ARMY SOLDIER.

Last Friday, Burmese military troops operating in the Hpakant jade mining region of western Kachin State detained a 20-year-old civilian and then placed him in a rice sack before tossing him into a mining pit, according to witnesses who say the fall appeared to be fatal.

KIO refuses NLD request to gather bodies from Hpakant battleground

THE MASSIVE AUGUST 29 EXPLOSION AT A WAI AUNG KABA MINING COMPOUND IN HPAKANT, WESTERN KACHIN STATE.

A request made by representatives from Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) that they be allowed to collect the bodies left behind by a massive August 29 explosion at a mining compound in the jade rich Hpakant (also Hpakan, Phakant) mining district in western Kachin State, has been rejected by the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

KIO sets new rules for Hpakant jade mining firms

CAPT, MAJI NAW RIN OF KIA'S BATTALION 6. PHOTO: KACHIN NEWS GROUP

Hpakant, Burma — The Kachin Independence Army's (KIA) Battalion 6 has set new rules for mining firms operating in the Hpakant jade mining district, (also Hpakan, or Phakant) in the west of Burma’s Kachin State, according to businessman in the area.

Burmese troops kill unarmed Kachin civilian in Hpakant jade mine

AN INNOCENT KACHIN CIVILIAN KARENG NAW CHYAN WAS KILLED BY BURMESE GOVERNENT SOLDIERS ON SEPT.5.

Kareng Naw Chyan, an unarmed Kachin civilian died after being shot in the neck by government soldiers on Wednesday, September 5 in the Hpakant jade mining region of western Kachin state, according to sources familiar with the incident.