The chairman of the former New Democratic Army- Kachin (NDA-K), a splinter ethnic armed group, in a letter on May 23, without mincing words, has urged the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) to kowtow to Burma’s ruling junta.
Zahkung Ting Ying, leader of former NDA-K, which transformed to junta’s Border Guard Force (BGF) in 2009, has advised KIO leaders to do a rethink of its policy on the junta’s BGF proposal. He cautioned that going against the junta would only invite negative impacts for Kachin people.
“Stop the policy of going against the junta instead finds a political solution to develop peace,” Ting Ying suggested in the letter addressed to KIO leader Lanyaw Zawng Hra.
He said the history of ethnic armed groups in Burma reveals, whoever has risen in armed revolt against the military government faced trouble instead of achieving their goal.
NDA-K split from KIO in 1968 led by Zahkung Ting Ying and Layawk Ze Lum and joined the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) for 21 years and reached a ceasefire agreement with the junta on 1989. The same year the CPB collapsed.
It was transformed to the Burmese Army controlled BGF in 2009 November.
Ting Ying, Rev. Dr Lahtaw Saboi Jum mediator between the KIO and the junta and former Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) general secretary, Lasang Awng Wa former armed group leader, Dr. Manam Tu Ja leader of Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) and former No.1 Vice Chairman of KIO have been advising KIO to consider the junta’s demands.
State people, however, have described them as ‘traitors’ and have criticized them for working for the junta for their own benefit.
Lt-Col Nhkum Doi La of former NDA-K in an interview with KNG said KIO should be clear about its stand and should decide whether it will fight the junta or make peace with the regime.
“They are only adding to the suffering of the Kachin people and being confused by the KIO as to whether they will wage war or make peace with the military government. They have to be clear about their stand and policy - to fight or to make peace,” said Lt-Col Doi La.
He also pointed out that the KIO has failed to respond to the suffering of the Kachin people from the days of the war to after the ceasefire with the junta.
However, the NDA-K and another splinter group, the Lasang Awng Wa peace group, which transformed to the junta’s people’s militia group in 2009 October are being widely criticized by Kachin people following the agreement with the regime and for getting permission for taking all natural resources from the area of Irrawaddy Myitsone dam construction site to Shang Ngaw as of earlier this year.
However, Lt-Col Doi La added, the agreement is “Before the areas get flooded we should take out all natural resources (esp. gold) to avoid wastage of these valuable things.”
Local residents are angry with these ethnic armed groups because instead of providing protection to its own people they have opted for their business interests and profits by providing security to workers from Myitkyina and Waingmaw townships, who were ordered by the junta to do the forced relocation in Myitsone Irrawaddy dam construction site in Northern Burma, Kachin State.
Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed-wing of KIO was formed in February 5, 1961 in Eastern Burma, Shan State and took to armed revolution against the junta for self determination. It later split in three groups, the Kachin Defense Army (KDA) led by Mahtu Naw in 1990, which was transformed into a militia group in 2010 January, NDA-K split in 1968 and Col Lasang Awng Wa group in January 4, 2004.
KIO/A and junta officials met at least 15 times to discuss the BGF issue but KIO continues to refuse changing its armed wing the KIA to the Burmese Army controlled BGF beyond the deadline of April 28.
The two sides continue to hold discussions for maintaining peace and KIO is trying to submit its contention to the junta by collecting opinion of its members.
