Kachin migrants gathered in New Delhi, India, Friday morning, to celebrate the 49th Kachin Revolution Day and protest ongoing abuse by the Burmese government of Kachin people and their state in Burma.
On the morning of February 6th, at 11 am, members of the Kachin National Organization (KNO) in New Delhi, India, gathered at Jarmantama Park in-front of the city’s parliament building. Holding signs advertising the Kachin Revolution Day, a crowd shouted slogans against the Burmese government.
60 Kachin civilians and monks attended the demonstration, which lasted at least an hour. The demonstration had to be scheduled in advance, though the KNO reported being unable to secure a permit to demonstrate in front of the Burmese, or any other countries’, embassy.
“This demonstration is for 49th Kachin Revolution Day. 60 people have come against… the main point, [that] we oppose 2010 election [in Burma],” stated Ashin Htar Wara, the general secretary of the All Burma Monks Alliance, who attended the protest in New Delhi. “[Also] the Kachin community around the world stands with the people of Kachin State and throughout Burma who oppose these dams. They will destroy the environment and kill many animals.”
A statement was also issued by Kachin communities from 6 different countries for commemoration of the 49th Kachin Revolution Day, recalling the history of the revolution, those who have lost their lives fighting for the Kachin nation, it honors the Kachin Independent Army (KIA). The statement also reminds the Kachin to maintain their literature and culture and asks Kachin people to stand against the construction of the May Kha – Ma Lee Kha dam, being built at the confluence of Irrawady river in Kachin State.
The damn project in Myitsone, Kachin State, has been a catalyzing issue for the Kachin community. The 50-storey dam is being built by the China Power Investment Corporation, and is intended at its completion to produce 3,600 MW of power for export to China. Over 60 villages, or approximately 15,000 people, are reported currently being forced to relocate without compensation.
Resistance to the Burmese governments plans for an election 2010 have been wide spread amongst ethnic and democracy groups though out Burma . While part of the Burmese government’s 7 step road map to a ‘disciplined democracy’, the election will be based on the constitution with under went a widely criticized referendum vote in 2008, granting the military special privileges in any future government.
A letter of invitation to Kachin civilians to attend the protest against the Burmese military government at the commemoration of the 49th Kachin Revolution Day, highlights the belief that the Burmese government works only to keep itself in power for the long term, and that the Kachin nation is treated unfairly. The letter also warned Kachin attendees, that the Burmese government threatens the Kachin community with dissention within its own community.
Ashin Htar Wara added, “I am very happy because I can show my wish that the ethnic [community] and the revolution has not been turned back and [that there is ]no stopping the revolutionaries.”
Kachin Revolution Day commemorates the founding of the largest Kachin political party, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) which was founded in 1961 after the Burmese army General Nay Win successfully lead a coup against the federal government. The KIO signed a ceasefire with the Burmese government in 1994.
The KNO formed on the 9th of January in 1999 by overseas Kachin community members and Kachin elders in Kachin State, Burma. According to the KNO website, the group continues to work for their goal of to “regain the inalienable rights of people by establishing an independent Kachin land and restore their pride and freedom.”
