Photo news: KDP party leaders meet IRI in Washington D.C

Gumgrawng Awng Hkam (middle left), leader of KDP meets officials from the International Republican Institute office at Washington D.C on May 30, Friday

KNG Photo: Gumgrawng Awng Hkam, a leader of Kachin Democratic Party (KDP), visits the International Republican Institute (IRI) office at Washington D.C and talks with Julija Belej Bakovic of the regional director for Asia and Matthew Baker of Asia Program Officer on May 30, Friday morning.

Displaced villagers continue to oppose Myitsone Dam

Ja Hkawn from Mungching Rawt Jat a press conference on a result of Myitsone dam referendum in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state on March 26, 2014.

Villagers forcibly displaced to make way for the Myitsone Dam project in Kachin state continue to oppose the dam, according to a referendum conducted earlier this year.

Kachin civil society groups demand justice from peace process

The delegations from government and KIO talked in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state on May 13. Photo by Jinghpaw La / Kachin News Group

A statement issued following last week's meeting of 17 Kachin civil society groups called for civil society to be included in the ongoing Kachin peace process, something that has yet to really take place. The joint statement noted that the participation of civil society was vital in order to have “genuine political change”. The meeting took place in the Kachin Independence Organizations (KIO) controlled town of Mai Ja Yang, located on the Chinese border.

UN warns of worsening refugee conditions in Kachin and Shan states

A Kachin refugee took a rest on the path to Manwing aftef the govenment troops attacked Nam Lim Pa camp in southern Kachin state on Nov. 18, 2013

The UN office for the Coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) warned on Friday that “an increase in insecurity and the displacement of thousands of people over the past weeks in southern Kachin State and northern Shan State” has made access to the more than 3,000 people the UN estimates to have been recently displaced in the area “increasingly difficult”.

UN says army still using child soldiers in Kachin state

Burmese soldiers in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state, northern Burma

A UN report on Children and Armed Conflict that will be officially released later this month concludes that Burma's military known as the Tatmadaw is still using child soldiers in its campaign against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Kachin refugee schools on China border request volunteers

Middle school in Jeyang camp in eastern Kachin state on Burma-China border

With a little more than two weeks before the start of the new academic year next month schools in internally displaced person's camps on the Burma-China border face a serious staffing shortfall. The schools which are located in territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) are short by more than 100 teachers and will not be able to open without staff says Labang Doi Pyi Sa, the head of KIO’s IDP and Refugee Relief Committee (IRRC) based in the group's Laiza capital.

Photo News: Kachin youths' demonstration support the KIO

A poster of KIA Vice Chief of Staff Maj-Gin Gun Maw in hte demonstration.

The demonstration of hundreds of Kachin youths show their support on the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)'s Public Consultation at Kachin Cultural Manau Park in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State on May 15. Photos by Jinghpaw La/Kachin News Group — in Myitkyina, Myanmar

Photo News: KIO and NCCT leaders hold Public Consultation in Myitkyina

KIO and NCCT leaders hold Public Consultation in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state today, May 15

The leaders of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Nationwide Cease-fire Coordination Team (NCCT) hold today, May 15 Public Consultation at Kachin Traditional Manau Park in Kachin state's capital Myitkyina, northern Burma.

No breakthrough during KIO talks with government

A group photo was taken aftef May 13 in Myitkyina between the government and KIO.

A delegation of senior officials from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) that included Maj-Gen Sumlut Gun Maw sat down yesterday with their counterparts from Burma's government to take part in negotiations in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina. The KIO delegation was officially led by Sumlut Gam, the group's education minister.

Photo news: Talk between Burmese govt. and KIO start in Myitkyina

Talk between Burmese government and Kachin Independence Organization started Tuesday morning in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state in northern Burma.  Observers from the United Nations, United Nationalities Federal Union (UNFC), Nationwide Cease-fire Coordination Team (NCCT) and invited persons join to the talk.

Burma army and KIA fight whole day in southern Kachin state

Burmese soldiers met Kachin refugees in Manwing in last April.

Troops from Burma's military faced off against forces from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) for nearly the whole day on Thursday at Kyauk Pya located on the Bhamo to Namhkam road, in south eastern Kachinstate, KIA officials and local residents tell the Kachin News Group.

Ex-political prisoners protest in Myitkyina against Myitsone dam

Anti-Myitsond dam protesters voice their anger at the projects backer CPI

A group of anti-dam activists that included former political prisoners staged a protest in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina today against the Myitsone dam. The protesters carried banners denouncing the Chinese state owned firm behind the billion dollar project which remains stalled but not cancelled.

Tensions remain high after army harasses and detains Kachin refugees

Col. Thelt Oo, acommander of LID No. 88 and his troops detained 14 Kachin refugees living in Lagat Yang camp in Man Win Gyi, south eastern Kachin state, northern Burma on May 3.

The situation in south eastern Kachin state remains tense after Burmese military authorities arrested 14 refugees living in the Lagat Yang camp on Saturday. The camp which was previously under Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) control was taken over last month by Burmese army troops following a series of clashes in eastern Kachin state.