Disappointment as Kachin parties refuse to cooperate

Dec-19-2014: Second talk for unity of Kachin political parties at YMCA in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state

A committee comprised of Kachin concerned about next year's national election has issued a statement lamenting the refusal of Kachin political parties to cooperate with each other. The statement by the group whose name translates into English as the “The Committee of Public Voice for the Unity of all Kachin parties” warned that by refusing to cooperate the Kachin parties are doomed to cancel each other out, thus aiding the ruling party.

Burma army seizes KIO post in Hpakant

A soldier from LID 66 takes position in Kachin's jade-rich Hpakant.

Troops from Burma's army took control of a small outpost held by the Kachin Independence Organization's (KIO) armed wing this past weekend in western Kachin state's jade rich Hpakant Township. The post which was controlled by troops from the Kachin Independence Army's (KIA) Battalion 6 under the group's Brigade 2 fell on Sunday shortly after government forces launched a barrage of heavy artillery at it.

Burma army attack kills 2 KIA soldiers

A KIA soldier from battalion 26 in Mohnyin township in western Kachin state was killed in attack of government force on Nov 19, 2014

Two soldiers from the Kachin Independence Organization's (KIO) armed wing were killed following a surprise attack by government forces on December 19th, the group acknowledged. The deadly incident took place in Kachin state's Daw Hpum Yang sub-township. According to Lah Nan, the KIO's chief spokesperson, one Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldier was also seized during the raid on the small KIA outpost.

Rights groups urge army drop suit against grieving Kachin father

Ja Seng Ing, 14-year-old Kachin school girl was shot dead by Burma army on Sept. 13, 2012

A coalition of international human rights groups including Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called on the Burma army to drop a lawsuit against a Kachin man from Hpakant who is facing prison for filing a complaint with the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) over the shooting death of his 14-year-old daughter.  The call came in an open letter sent to President Thein Sein earlier this month. 

Delay in permits behind Kachin aid convoy halt says UN

Kachin refugees in Laiza, the de facto capital of KIO in Kachin state, northern Burma

Due to the refusal by Burma government authorities to grant the necessary permits United Nations (UN) convoys have not been able to deliver aid to Kachin refugees in northern Shan and Kachin States for the past two months, says the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in a statement released December 16th.

Fresh military tensions force villagers to flee Hpakant

Hundreds of villagers in Kachin State's jade rich Hpakant district have fled their homes since December 13th because of a serious rise in tensions between the army and units from the Kachin Independence Organization's (KIO) similarly named armed wing based in the area, local residents tell the Kachin News Group.

Halting UN aid to Kachin refugees will have dire impact say aid groups

 Halting UN aid to Kachin refugees will have dire impact say aid groups

The suspension of United Nations (UN) aid convoys to refugee camps in Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) territory will lead to a “major crisis” in a very short time aid groups warn.

KIA burns huge drug haul in northern Shan state

The KIA burned huge drug in northern Shan state of Burma on Dec 8, 2014

A drug eradication committee operated by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) Battalion 9 under the group's 4th Brigade, burned over US $100,000 worth of confiscated drugs in northern Shan state last week.

KIO says it will boycott meeting with Army in Myitkyina

 Aung Min with KIO flag, government 's chief peace negotiator

Citing the army's refusal to provide an adequate explanations for the November 19th shelling attack on a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) officer training school which killed 23 cadets, the KIA's political wing has vowed to boycott a previously scheduled monthly meeting with the army in Myitkyina this month.

Despite threats Kachin family maintains Tatmadaw killed daughter

During a press conference in Rangoon last Saturday the father of Ja Seng Ing, a slain 14-year-old Kachin student from western Kachin's state Hpakant township, called on the Thein Sein government to immediately form a commission to investigate the 13th September 2012 shooting death of his daughter.

Kachin in Thailand celebrate King's birthday with Manau festival

 Kachin in Thailand celebrated King's birthday with Manau festival in Ban Mai Samakee in Chiang Dao district in northern Thailand on Dec. 5, 2014

Kachin residents of Ban Mai Samakee village in Northern Thailand's Chiang Dao district held a four day Manau festival this past weekend to honour the Thai monarch's birthday.

Kachin civil society groups call for army to withdraw

A coalition of 15 civil society organizations (CSOs) based in northern Burma's Kachin state publicly called on the Thein Sein government to withdraw army troops deployed in an ongoing offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and other ethnic armed groups.