Statement on Prohibiting the Rescuing Mission of the Stranded IDPs in Kachin State by the Tatmadaw

Kachin Youth Demonstration Leading Committee | May 6, 2018

1. On 30th April. Public demonstration participated by over 8000 individuals demanded Kachin State Government to end the siege on Kachin IDPs who are caught in the locations of military operation. However, no visible response from the Kachin State government was received so that peaceful public sit-in demonstration was started on 3rd May with the leadership of Kachin Youth.
2. On the evening of May 3rd the youth representatives, Peace Talk Creation Group (PCG) and Myitkyina Christian Council (MCC) met with Kachin State government and demanded the three points: I) the relocation of the stranded IDPs to a safe place; 2) the inclusion of other parities in the rescuing mission including religious leaders, media personnel, youth representatives and other social organizations; and 3) the immediate access to emergency humanitarian aids for the stranded IDPs.
3. As results of the meeting, the Kachin State government agreed to issue a statement on the demanded points and Chief Minister’s travel to Nawng Lai Hku (Man Wai) village situated in Ka Maing in the rescuing mission of the stranded IDPs to safer locations.
4. Nonetheless, the government only mentioned their general assistance provided to IDPs in their statement, not the demanded points, hence the youth demonstration leading committee demanded addressing what they had agreed to do so. However, there has been no response from the government yet. In addition, Chief Minister shunned travelling to Nawng Lai Hku (Man Wai) on the day together with the rescuing mission group assigning the Deputy Director of Myitkyina development committee and other four personnel to follow along the trip
5. Arriving to Ka Mains, the rescuing mission group was informed by the Myanmar military authority that the stranded IDPs would not be allowed to relocate from the current hazardous
6. In the attempt to rescue the stranded IDPs as promised by the government, the rescuing mission group tried their best reaching out to the Kachin State government and authorized persons several times, but all attempts were in vain because of the military stoppage.
7. Observing all the incidents, it is concluded that all the disturbances and hindrances caused in the relocation of the stranded IDPs from hazardous locations and access to emergency humanitarian aids are solely the responsibility of the Tatmadaw.
8. We urge international communities to put pressure on the Tatmadaw and government to rescue the stranded IDPs from hazardous locations and allow IDPs to have immediate access to the emergency humanitarian aids.
9. Thus, it is to announce that the youth sit-in demonstration will continue demanding the relocation of all the stranded IDPs from hazardous locations around the Kachin State and it will only end its protest when the goal of the demonstration is achieved.