Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) delegates met the regional Burmese military chief today on the contentious Border Guard Force issue for the twelfth time, following its week-long crucial central committee meet, said KIO sources.
The KIO delegates from its Laiza headquarters in eastern Kachin state, near the China border, and senior Burmese military officials met in the Northern Command (NC or Ma-Pa-Kha) in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State at about 10 a.m. local time, said the KIO relations office in Myitkyina.
The KIO delegates led by Vice-president No.1 Lt-Gen Gauri Zau Seng met the junta’s Northern Command Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win. The commander was told of the outcome of the KIO central committee meeting from March 1 to 10, on transforming the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed-wing of KIO to the Burmese Army controlled Border Guard Force, said sources close to KIO delegates.
The KIO delegates have proposed to the junta supremo Snr-Gen Than Shwe, through the meeting for a political dialogue, leaving aside the BGF issue for now, according to KIO relations office in Myitkyina,
With mediatory help of two Kachin church leaders--- Rev. Dr. Lahtaw Saboi Jum and Father Dau Hkawng, and businessman Hkun Sa, the meeting was held in the midst of fears of fresh civil over the KIO’s failure to toe the junta line on the BGF issue, said KIO officials.
This is the first meeting after the junta’s deadline of February 28 for transforming KIA to the BGF expired
The KIO central committee has avoided making a clear statement over the BGF issue on whether it will accept or reject it, according to the KIO officers in Laiza.
There has been no positive outcome till now, though the KIO and the ruling junta have met a dozen times, including today’s meeting on BGF issue since April last year, said KIO officials in Laiza.
Dr.Lahkyen La Ja, general secretary of KIO. Photo: Kachin News Group
The KIO and Kachin people have rejected surrendering arms and armed-wing conversion plans before the political imbroglio between Kachins and the Burmese junta, of over four decades, is resolved.
Maj-Gen Gunhtang Gam Shawng, the military Chief-of -Staff of KIA told BBC on February 22 that there was no benefit to Kachin people during the 16-year-old ceasefire agreement with the Burmese junta.
The KIA is preparing to defend itself from the Burmese Army’s onslaught in its own way because the junta is pressurizing the KIO/KIA to disarm, said the KIA Chief-of -Staff to BBC.
