Overseas Kachin students have launched a website called “Kachinreview” to share their thoughts and views on Kachin issues. It is a move to give vent to freedom of expression of the Kachin people.
The new website was launched on May 5 in a combination from four countries -- United Kingdom (UK), United State of American (USA), Thailand and Hongkong, said Hka Shi, the representative from the west for the website.
“We aim to put together the views of the Kachin people on the webpage. It will be on the situation in Kachin State -- past, present and future – and will be paired with write ups on the worldview, Hka Shi, who is living and studying in USA told KNG.
She said this was the first attempt to create a website. The group did not know each other and the whole thing started with around 10 university students. Now they expect hundreds of Kachin students from overseas and inside Burma to involve it themselves.
News of events will not be published on the website. The idea is to post features and views, thoughts and advice relating to issues of ethnic Kachin people.
University students around the globe want to do something for their own people and motherland, which includes projection and lobbying. This is one of the reasons for floating the website, Hka Shi said.
Students who created the website said they plan to ask university students to write on major subjects of their study.
The Kachin Review group will encourage professionalism so those wanting to publish their articles should relate to what they are studying, a statement said.
Ethnic Kachins in Northern Burma continue facing social, political and economic crisis since independence from British colonial rule in 1948.
Despite being replete with rich-natural resources most Kachin civilians are poor because all local business ventures are controlled by the Burmese military junta and its cronies for decades.
Civil war between the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/A) and the Burmese Army has also contributed to the struggle damaging ethnic social infrastructure, affecting religious practices and freedom of movement.
At the moment KIO/A is struggling to continue to hold on to the ceasefire agreement with the junta, which they reached in 1994. But the junta now wants the KIA to transform to the Border Guard Force (BGF) under its control but the KIO refuses to accept it wanting parleys to maintain peace.
You can directly visit the KR’s website at: www.kachinreview.com.
