Burmese troops and KIA repeatedly clash in southern Kachin state

Fighting between government forces and troops form the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) took place nearly every day last week in the Manwing area of southern Kachin state. The fighting began shortly after a military column entered into an area controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the KIO's armed wing.

Police question Kachin Baptist leader after peace demonstration

KBC president Rev. Gyung Hkawng (left) and General Secretary Rev. Dr. Samson (right) led a peaceful demonstration on 3rd anniversary of Kachin war in northern Burma, which fell on June 9,2014. Photo : Kachin News Group

Police authorities in Myitkyina, the Kachin state capital questioned Reverend Samson, general secretary of Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) following a church led demonstration marking the 3rd anniversary of the Kachin war which fell on June 9th, according to church officials.

Villagers in northern Shan state suffer after Tatmadaw's Kachin offensive

A  Htay from Nam Jarng village being carried away on May 29 after she was reportedly shot by Burma army soldiers from LIB 88. She died the next day from her injuries (Cred SHRF)

Life has become extremely difficult for large numbers of villagers in northern Shan state who have had to endure great hardship since April 10th when Burma's military launched an offensive against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The offensive which took place in parts of northern Shan state and southern Kachin state close to the Chinese border, involved more than 1,000 troops from Light Infantry Division 88, according to a recent report released by the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF).

Kachin activists mark third year of war

Kachin in London hold a protest in front of the Burmese Emabassy on June 9th 2014 (photo countesy Burma Campaign UK)

Over the past few days Kachin people around the world took part in events to mark the third anniversary of the Kachin conflict which fell on Monday June 9th. On Sunday many Kachin gathered in Rangoon’s Maha Bandoola Park where community leaders gave speeches calling for peace. Kachin youth in Myitkyina also took part in a similar peace themed event in the Kachin state capital.

Dr. Tu Ja says Burma constitution must be amended but not on Thein Sein's terms

Dr. Manam Tu Ja, leader of the Kachin State Democracy Party (KSDP) tells the Kachin News Group (KNG) that Burma’s military-backed constitution must be amended in line with the people’s will and in a democratic manner which is different from what has been proposed by the government.

Outgoing UN rights Envoy to Burma concerned about Kachin situation

Tomas Ojea Quintana

In a statement released on Friday outgoing UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, expressed his concerns about the ongoing conflict in Kachin and northern Shan state and recent reports of attacks on civilians by the Burma army.

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.