Kachin ethnic political group abroad has come down heavily on the advice of a former armed group leader, Zahkung Ting Ying to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), to toe the Burmese military junta’s line.
The Kachin National Organization (KNO) formed with overseas Kachin people on January 9, 1999 was severely critical of the letter of the former leader of the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) Zahkung Ting Ying suggesting to the KIO on May 23 to toe the junta’s line.
“It is a wrong idea to give up the armed struggle and go in for politics in such a repressive situation and atmosphere of distrust created by the junta…,” said Bawmwang Laraw, Chairman of the KNO in a statement addressed to Ting Ying.
Ting Ying, pro-junta Kachin leader has said KIO should change their policy, where they rejected the Burmese military government’s proposal to transform Kachin Independence Army (KIA) into a Border Guard Force (BGF).
“Scrap the policy of going against the junta and instead find a political solution for peace,” said Ting Ying in the letter sent to KIO leader Lanyaw Zawng Hra.
He said there can only be negative impact for the Kachin people if KIO continues to go against the junta.
“We agree with the need for peace but we (Kachins) are not destroying peace, the junta is the one which is creating instability, oppression and injustice,” said the statement.
The KNO pointed out the lack of political opportunity for the NDA-K after it was transformed into BGF in 2009 November. It said those dealing with the junta are seeking personal benefits and do not care for civilians.
At this point in time Kachin ethnics consider Ting Ying a stooge of the junta.
The Kachin political organization said there is no political sense behind the BGF proposal by the junta for ethnic armed groups. It is only meant to expand the regime’s control over all ethnic people.
The NDA-K split from the mother organization KIO in 1968 led by Ting Ying and Layawk Ze Lum. Later they joined the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) until a ceasefire agreement with the junta in 1989. The same year the CPB collapsed.
KIA was formed in February 5, 1961 in Shan State, Eastern Burma and it split into three groups later -- the Kachin Defense Army (KDA) led by Mahtu Naw in 1990, which was transformed to a militia group in January 2010, NDA-K in 1968 and Col Lasang Awng Wa group in January 4, 2004, which became the People’s Militia group in 2009 October.
Ting Ying, Lasang Awng Wa, Rev. Dr. Lahtaw Saboi Jum, mediator between KIO and junta and former general secretary of Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) and Dr. Manam Tu Ja, leader of Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) and retired Vice-president No. 2 of KIO are advising KIO to give into the junta’s proposal.
Kachin people from inside and abroad severely criticized their role and condemned them for working at the behest of the junta. People are calling them opportunists.
http://www.kachinnews.com/News/Overseas-Kachin-political-outfit-comes-do...
