Authorities Block Protest Camp Site at Myitkyina

Kachinland News | April 30, 2018

A Kachin youth group’s plan to establish a protest camp in front of the An Daw Shin monastery at Yan Gyi Awng Quarter in Myitkyina was thwarted by State government authorities on Monday evening. The group, Kachin public youth demonstration leading committee, had intended to hold sit-ins and rallies calling for the safe passage of IDPs caught in the crossfire of battles and for the release of those detained by the BA troops.

Organizers of the camp had applied for, and received permission to hold lawful, non-violent protests in front of the monastery from May 1-14. But as the group started to assemble at the site, the State government issued an order dated April 30, that the permit had been rescinded. When the police arrived to enforce the order, the group staged a silent march towards the Manau Grounds. They are to return to the Grounds the next morning, where they will hold talks and sit-in protests.

Earlier on Monday beginning 7 am, thousands of Myitkyina residents gathered in Shatapru Manau Compound and held a rally to demand for the rescue of civilians trapped in the battles.

The chief demands, according to a statement released by the Kachin public youth demonstration leading committee, of the protesters were:

1. for the government to urgently rescue civilians trapped in the conflict to secure and safe place
2. for the government to take responsibility for conflict affected civilians’s necessary humanitarian aids and for their lives with dignity
3. that demonstration will go on endlessly unless the Government rescue lives of civilians trapped in the conflict

Protesters shouted slogans and held placards reading “Safe return home for IDPs caught in the crossfires of war,” “Timely receipt of food and other assistance for IDPs,””Halt to Burma Army attacks,” “The Central government to act to protect the lives and homes of its citizens and bring about peace,” and “Resolution of a problem that is political in nature through political talks, not through force and use of heavy weaponry”.