Press Release By Kachin Civil Society Organisations

On that day, at about 3 pm, there had been an armed clash between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army along the Ledo Road east of Kamaing. Shortly after the fighting, 50-year-old farmer Nlam Bawk Naw, who had been drinking alcohol, was walking from his house to a row of restaurants in the middle of Lawah village, which lies on the Ledo Road.

When Nlam Bawk Naw was about 100 feet from the restaurants, several restaurant owners and other villagers witnessed a group of Burma Army soldiers stopping him, hitting him in the head with rifle butts, punching and kicking him. He was seen being led away, his hands tied behind him, towards the temple compound at the entrance to Lawah village, where the Burma Army troops were camping. Early the next morning, the troops left the village, and Nlam Bawk Naw has not been seen since.

The column involved was comprised of troops from IB 86, 297 and 298. However, enquiries with these battalions have yielded no result. On June 20, two of Nlam Bawk Naw’s daughters went with the Lawah village headman to the military camp of IB 298 at Jahtu Zup to ask after their father, but were not allowed into the camp.

On July 24, 2017, Nlam Bawk Naw’s eldest daughter wrote a formal appeal to the Kachin Chief Minister and Northern Regional Commander asking them to locate and release her father. Copies were sent to the State Counsellor and the head of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission. There has been no reply.

Nlam Bawk Naw is a widower with five children. “Since our mother passed away, we have depended on our father,” said his eldest daughter Kaw Mai. “We are so afraid something bad has happened to him. I can’t bear to think about it. Our whole family does not feel safe.”

Kachin CSOs have grave fears for the safety of Nlam Bawk Naw, and call urgently for his immediate and unconditional release.

Media Contacts;

Moon Nay Li (Thailand) +66 85 523 3791

San Htoi ( Thailand) +66 939 621 908

Mr. Gum San Nsang (US) +1 443 4158 68