Global day of Action for Kachin marks 2nd anniversary of conflict

Manwin IDP (internally displaced person) camp which is placed between Kachin state and Shan state border in northeastern Burma.  Photo: Kachin News Group

Burma campaign groups and Kachin diaspora organizations around the world are participating in a global day of action today to mark the 2nd anniversary of the military's attack on the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), a conflict that has caused more than 100,000 people to flee their homes and resulted in the death of many civilians.

60 groups from 21 different countries, including Iceland, the US and Japan will participate in the Global Day of Action which also marks the second anniversary of the Burma army's decision to unilaterally end a 17- year ceasefire with the KIO in Kachin and Kachin inhabited areas of north western Shan state.

Although a 7-point agreement was signed between the KIO and government representatives in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina last week, no ceasefire has been agreed to as of yet and the situation remains tense.

Despite a significant decrease in fighting over the past few months and the recent 7-point agreement, Burma's nominally civilian government and the military continue to enforce an aid blockade on refugee camps located in KIO territory. As a result of this blockade as many as 40,000 people living in KIO controlled IDP camps are without proper nutrition and medical supplies.

According to organizers the Global Day of Action will highlights the human rights abuses committed against civilian in Kachin areas including the widespread sexual violence against ethnic women used as a weapon of war. Event organizers are also calling for “the establishment of a federal democratic Burma to guarantee a durable peace”.

Activists both in Burma and throughout the world will use the day to send public letters to President Thein Sein urging him to rein in the military and halt the violence in northern Burma. The organizers are also calling for a “political solution based on the principle of federal democracy and equal rights for ethnic nationalities”, something which President Thein Sein and his chief negotiator Aung Min have yet to commit too.

A statement issued by the coalition organizers included a quote from Gawlu La Awng, a representative of the KIO's foreign affairs department. “The root cause of the conflict in Kachin State is the lack of national equality based on the current constitution. Without a political solution which is the formation of a federal democratic Burma that guarantees self-determination for the Kachin and all ethnic nationalities, there can never be a durable peace in the country”, said Gawlu La Awng.

The statement also listed all 60 groups involved in the Global Day of action. The full list is reproduced here:

1.    Actions Birmanie (Belgium)
2.    All Kachin Students and Youth Union
3.    Altsean-Burma
4.    ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC)
5.    Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC- Philippines)
6.    Association Suisse-Birmanie (Switzerland)
7.    Austrian Burma Center (Austria)
8.    BurmaInfo (Japan)
9.    Burma Action Ireland
10.    Burma Aktion (Germany)
11.    Burma Campaign Australia
12.    Burma Campaign UK
13.    Burma Centre Delhi (India)
14.    Burma Partnership
15.    Center for Peoples Dialogue (Srilanka)
16.    Chin Human Rights Organization
17.    Christian Solidarity Worldwide
18.    Dignity International (Global NGO)
19.    European Karen Network
20.    Forum for Democracy in Burma
21.    Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
22.    Free Burma Coalition-Philippines
23.    Human Rights Education Institute of Burma
24.    IMPARSIAL, the Indonesian human rights monitor (Indonesia)
25.    Info Birmanie (France)
26.    Institute for Asian Democracy
27.    International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
28.    Inter Pares (Canada)[/B]
29.    Jinghpawland Cultural Exchange Committee
30.    Kachin Association Australia (NSW)
31.    Kachin Alliance, USA
32.    Kachin Canadian Association (KCA)
33.    Kachin Community in Europe
34.    Kachin Community in New Zealand
35.    Kachin Development Group (KDG)
36.    Kachin Environmental Organization
37.    Kachin Literature and Culture-Singapore
38.    Kachin National Organization
39.    Kachin Peace Network
40.    Kachin Refugee Committee - Malaysia
41.    Kachin Women's Association Thailand (KWAT)
42.    Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
43.    Kayan Women's Organization (Karenni)
44.    Mae Tao Clinic
45.    Mon Youth Forum (MYF)
46.    Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO)
47.    Nationalities Youth Forum (Burma)
48.    PaxRomana ICMICA Asia[/B]
49.    People's Forum on Burma(Japan)
50.    Project Maje, Portland Oregon USA
51.    Queensland Kachin Community Inc (QKC)
52.    Rohingya Arakanese Refugee Committee (RARC), Malaysia
53.    Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma
54.    Shwe Gas Movement (SGM)
55.    Ta'ang Students and Youth Organization
56.    The Arakan Observer Group
57.    The Best Friend Burmese Library
58.    US Campaign for Burma
59.    WunpawngNinghtoi (WPN)
60.    Pan Taung Township Farmers Network

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