Silent March, IDP Testimonies and Prayers Mark Kachin War Anniversary

Kachinland News (KLN) | June 10, 2016

Thursday marks the 5th anniversary of the renewed war in Kachin region. Kachin communities around the world held prayer services and ceremonies to commemorate the anniversary.

Hundreds of IDPs living at temporary camps in Myitkyina and Waimaw took part in a silent march from their camps to Myitkyina’s Shatapru Manau Park, where the anniversary ceremony was held. IDPs held signs that read, “We want to go home”, “Take actions against perpetrators of human rights violations”, and “Remove article 17/1 of the Unlawful Association Act”, as they walked up to Manau compound.

Thursday’s event at Manau Park included prayers, testimonies from IDPs, plays, art exhibits and a panel discussion. Over 10,000 people that comprised members of Kachin Consultative Council, church and community leaders, Kachin artists, IDPs from 35 camps, and local residents participated the event at the Manau compound.

In KIO’s administrative capital Laiza, a prayer service was held early Thursday morning at Padang Hall to commemorate the 5th anniversary of renewed war. About 1200 KIO personnel and civilians attended the event.

Similar events were held at major cities in Kachin and Shan State.

To mark the 5th anniversary, the Kachin Alliance, a network of Kachin communities in the United States, together with the Yangon-based Kachin Peace Network (KPN) launched a fund raising campaign for the IDP children’s school material. Representatives of Kachin communities in the United States also sent letters to senators and congressmen to update current situation in Kachin and Shan State.

On June 9, 2011, the renewed war began between Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese Army after a combined force of Burmese army’s 437th Light Infantry Regiment and 348th Light Infantry Regiment troops launched an attack on KIA 15th Battalion’s Bumsan post in Sanggang, located near Taping hydropower plant in Momauk Township, ending a 17-year ceasefire.

Lance Corporal Gawmo Chang Ying, a KIO’s liason officer in Sanggang, was arrested, tortured and killed by Burmese army troops. At the request of KIO’s central committee, Chang Ying’s body was returned to KIA troops with full of bruises, stab wounds, and bayonette wounds on June 10, 2011. Chang Ying was reportedly shot three times even after his death.

KIO requested the Burmese army to stop sending troops to Kachin frontlines and transporting military hardware following the Sanggang incident. Burmese army ignored KIO’s ultimatum and began one of the most widespread war in Burma.