In an unusual move, the two government cronies invited Kachin church and cultural leaders to the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) hall in Myitkyina, capital of Kachin State, and urged them to persuade KIO to accept the government’s peace offer, reported participants.

The meeting was jointly organized by two leaders who split from the KIO in the past: Zahkung Ting Ying, member of the House of Nationalities in the Burmese Parliament, and Col. Lasang Awng Wa, leader of the Lawayang-based militia group.

At the meeting, Zahkung Ting Ying, leader of the former New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), which transformed into a Burmese Army-controlled Border Guard Force in November 2009, said the Kachin people should urge the KIO to accept the government’s peace offer, according to participants.

A four-page paper addressed to leaders of the KIO, signed by Zahkung Ting Ying, was distributed to each attendee of the meeting.

The paper strongly urged that the KIO accept the peace proposal of President Thein Sein’s government, or else the KIO would be responsible for all the severe consequences Kachin people face from the conflict.

The two government accomplices praised the new nominally civilian government, saying it is implementing genuine democratic reforms, and claiming that the government is ready to enter into political talks, as the KIO has demanded for five decades.

The meeting participants did not accept the request of the two government associates, suggesting that they urge the KIO directly, not through the use of civilians as intermediaries, according to attendees.

The organizers of the meeting invited 80 cultural leaders and dignitaries from Kachin churches in Myitkyina. However, only about 40 persons attended, noted participants.

The new government broke the seventeen-year ceasefire it maintained with the KIO and started a new military offensive against the KIO on June 9.