Appeal for the Kachin and Shan State IDPs: Mary Twan, Director of WPN

Tribal Action Group and Burma Link | July 3, 2017

120,000 Kachin IDPs (internally displaced people) struggle to survive on 6.5 US dollars per month as the Burma Army continues attacking villages and committing violations likely amounting to war crimes. Whilst aid is desperately needed, international aid has dropped by as much as 60% since 2015. Mary Tawn, Director of Wunpawng Ninghtoi (WPN), makes this appeal for the Kachin and Shan State IDPs. The interview was conducted by the Tribal Action Group in March 2017.

‘The military have been shooting to the villagers’

I’m Mary Tawn, the director of Wunpawng Ninghtoi, WPN, it means “Light for the People”. So we are based in the KIA controlled area. There are over 120,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in 169 camps in Kachin and Northern Shan States. But since 2016, there are more IDPs increasing from Northern Shan State.

Since 2015, end of 2015, international humanitarian aid funding has been reducing 60%. Currently, one IDP receive only receive 9000 kyat, it’s close to 6.5 US dollars per person for one month for all basics. Imagine how they can survive for one month with this small amount of money? We already say that, regarding the human rights principles, people have the right to live with dignity, but the situation for the Kachin IDP is very difficult situation. They only receive cooking oil and rice. The military have been shooting to the villagers and three children have been

[recently] injured by the artillery shell from Northern Shan State, called Pu Wang village. The younger [one] has been dead, and two young boys, one of the young boys just four years old, has been injured in the belly. He is being hospitalized in China. And also, one of the boys has been hurt on his left leg. So within this month, three children we have to be referred to the China side. These three children have to be hospitalized in China. When we say about health, health is very important, but to save the life of the IDP, we do not have any funding to save the lives of these people.

‘When the Burmese soldiers came, they take all the belongings, they [IPDs] were killed, tortured and they were raped’

The consequences of the reducing of the international humanitarian aids, the family, all the family, have been affected by this. So many of the young people, especially the younger, who really would like to support for their family, drop out of school. What they are facing is human trafficking, and some of them have to get early marriage. So many people have been tortured, and killed, and disappeared. This kind of cases, we have heard because we are helping and we are closely working with the IDP community from the grassroot level at the camps. When the Burmese soldiers came, they take all the belongings, they [IDPs] were killed, tortured and they were raped, like this. So they are afraid, that’s why the military have been very close to their village when they heard there is fighting, continue to running from them. So all of the IDP, these 120,000 IDP who live in the camp, their original village is now occupied and still live… and totally some of the houses have been totally broken because been 5 years already. So some of them, their land, their house, is also occupied and stayed by the Burmese military. When you travel to the, along the Myitkina road you will see, all the long of the road has been filled with the soldiers, and these people they dare not to go back to their original village, because everything is gone.

‘Many Kachin people are neglected’

Last 2016, November 20, there is we see there is fighting between the Northern Alliance and Government Army. There is two pastors, one is young, a young pastor, but the one is deacon, so they are suspected and arrested by the military. At first, they are missing, so we don’t know where are they, so they are missing. So most of us have been thought that they are dead, but we are releasing on Facebook, social media and some of the friends have been asking a lot and so just last two months we have been heard that they have been arrested by the military. So just, now they are in the Muse jail, and just last month one of my friends have been going to meet with them. At the time, these two pastors have been seriously tortured, they have been seriously tortured by the military. That’s why I would really like to say the international community, that many Kachin people are neglected and also like especially these two pastors have been arrested and would like to request all of you, be kind, be love, and force the international community to release these two pastors.

‘Use your freedom to support and to stand for the people who lost everything and living in the camp’

I also would like to ask to think about the IDPs, Kachin IDPs, who is very difficult situation living, they only receive 6.5 US$ per month. So think about when you are having your breakfast, your one meal will be support for one IDP for one month. Also, I would really like to request to the international community including the UN agency and also the NGO who love doing for the humanitarian work, please, our country, Myanmar [Burma], needs your help. That’s what I would like to say to you: use your freedom to support and to stand for the people who lost everything and living in the camp. I would like to request to Myanmar [Burma] government, especially Tatmadaw [Burma Army], please don’t shoot the artillery shells, mortar shells, to the villagers, to the village, because many people are injury a lot, because of your shooting to the villages. I also would like to request to the Ethnic Armed Groups, and also the Government, please consider for your civilians to be safe. And also please, respect and follow the international humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law. So many children and women are injury because of your unaccountable behavior. Please, think about these people as your children, your sons, your daughters, your grandson, your grandchildren. Please, be kind on the innocent civilians of the conflict area, thank you.

The information in this appeal is based on Mary Twan’s account.

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