Burma campaign groups and Kachin diaspora organizations around the world participated in the Global Day of Action today to mark the 2nd anniversary of the military's attack on the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO); a conflict that has uprooted at least 100,000 people, with many casualties and numerous human rights abuses against civilians. Sixty groups from twenty-one countries from as far away as Iceland voiced their concerns by writing letters to Burmese President Thein Sein.
Organizers demanded an end to the conflict and a “political solution based on the principle of federal democracy and equal rights for ethnic nationalities”, something that the president and chief peace negotiator Aung Min refuses to implement. Although a 7-point agreement was signed between the KIO and government representatives during recent talks in the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina, a ceasefire hasn’t been reached and the situation on the ground remains tense.
Burma's nominally civilian government and military continue to enforce an aid blockade on refugee camps located in KIO-controlled territories despite a significant decrease in fighting during the past few months. About 40,000 people living in KIO controlled IDP camps are suffering from malnutrition and limited access to medical supplies.
The Global Day of Action also highlighted the many human rights abuses committed against civilians, including the widespread use of sexual violence as a weapon of war against ethnic women.
Gawlu La Awng, representative for the KIO's foreign affairs department, said in the statement the conflict is a result of the flawed 2008 Constitution.
“The root cause of the conflict in Kachin state is the lack of national equality based on the current constitution. Without a political solution which is the formation of a federal democratic Burma that guarantees self-determination for the Kachin and all ethnic nationalities, there can never be a durable peace in the country.”
List of the groups that took part in The Global Day of Action :
1. Actions Birmanie (Belgium) 2. All Kachin Students and Youth Union 3. Altsean-Burma[/B] 4. ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) 5. Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC- Philippines) 6. Association Suisse-Birmanie (Switzerland) 7. Austrian Burma Center (Austria) 8. BurmaInfo (Japan) 9. Burma Action Ireland 10. Burma Aktion (Germany) 11. Burma Campaign Australia 12. Burma Campaign UK 13. Burma Centre Delhi (India) 14. Burma Partnership 15. Center for Peoples Dialogue (Sri Lanka) 16. Chin Human Rights Organization 17. Christian Solidarity Worldwide 18. Dignity International (Global NGO) 19. European Karen Network 20. Forum for Democracy in Burma 21. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa) 22. Free Burma Coalition-Philippines 23. Human Rights Education Institute of Burma 24. IMPARSIAL, the Indonesian human rights monitor (Indonesia) 25. Info Birmanie (France) 26. Institute for Asian Democracy 27. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) 28. Inter Pares (Canada) 29. Jinghpawland Cultural Exchange Committee 30. Kachin Association Australia (NSW) |
31. Kachin Alliance, USA 32. Kachin Canadian Association (KCA) 33. Kachin Community in Europe 34. Kachin Community in New Zealand 35. Kachin Development Group (KDG) 36. Kachin Environmental Organization 37. Kachin Literature and Culture-Singapore 38. Kachin National Organization 39. Kachin Peace Network 40. Kachin Refugee Committee - Malaysia 41. Kachin Women's Association Thailand (KWAT) 42. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) 43. Kayan Women's Organization (Karenni) 44. Mae Tao Clinic 45. Mon Youth Forum (MYF) 46. Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO) 47. Nationalities Youth Forum (Burma) 48. PaxRomana ICMICA Asia 49. People's Forum on Burma(Japan) 50. Project Maje, Portland Oregon USA 51. Queensland Kachin Community Inc (QKC) 52. Rohingya Arakanese Refugee Committee (RARC), Malaysia 53. Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma 54. Shwe Gas Movement (SGM) 55. Ta'ang Students and Youth Organization 56. The Arakan Observer Group 57. The Best Friend Burmese Library 58. US Campaign for Burma 59. WunpawngNinghtoi (WPN) 60. Pan Taung Township Farmers Network |