Kachin IDP pastors receive legal training

The three-day legal workshop for Kachin Christian postors in refugee camps in KIO de facto capital Laiza was concluded on April 17.

Christian pastors living in refugee camps located in territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), took part in a three-day legal training workshop this week, according to conference organizers.

Under the training program which took place at Naw E Hku village near Laiza, the de facto capital of the KIO, attendees learned about the differences between Burma's original independence era constitution and the controversial 2008 pro-military constitution. Participants were also briefed on the current status of Burma's legal system, said Awng Ra, a preacher who helped organize the training sessions.

U Aung Htoo, a trained lawyer who serves as general secretary of the Burma Lawyer’s Council told the Kachin News Group that his presentation largely focused on the differences between Burma's new constitution and a proposed federal constitution which was drafted a few years ago by a group of experts from Burma's various ethnic nationalities in line with the 1947 Panglong agreement.

This training program focused on ways refugees and church staff can solve the country's political and ethnic problems, said Awng Ra. According to Awng Ra the preachers do not want to become politicians themselves but instead want to help their followers understand the cause of the country's ongoing conflicts.

A mixed group of more than 50 church preachers from various denominations took part in the training. The preachers who took part are refugees who come from Jeyang camp, Maga Yang camp, Zai Awng camp, Jan Mai camp, Hpunglum Yang camp, Laisin camp and Laiza. Ten students also took part in the training program.

The KIO supported the training and provided food for the participants.

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