In what could have unleashed bloodshed and pitted ethnic people against each other, the Burmese military junta’s Prime Minister in a special speech earlier this year, had tried to foment inter-tribal war among Kachin nationals,  said local sources.

Gen Thein Sein, retired Prime Minister and chairman of the regime-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) encouraged Kachin nationals to kill each other in Puta-O district, also called Putau in Kachin, when he met specially invited native people of the district on a visit last February, said sources.

Puta-O sources said, Gen Thein Sein met native Rawang and Lisu tribal leaders in Puta-O town on February 25 and came up with two questions to avenge the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Firstly, Gen Thein Sein asked invited Kachin tribal leaders “How many people had been killed by the Jinghpaw tribe (referring to the KIO) in the past,” he was quoted as asking by local sources close to those who attended.

The question was answered by a leader from each Rawang and Lisu tribal participants, added sources.

Then the Burmese general told two native tribal leaders “If you kill (take revenge) against the Jingphaw (KIO), we will provide you weapons,” said the same sources.

A representative of Rawang tribe, Tanggu Dang, or Ahdang recalled the past history about the conflict between KIO and the Rawang tribe, where many Rawang people were killed. The arms supply offer from the former Prime Minister was accepted, the sources added.

Ahdang is a businessman and owner of Mali Hka Recording in the Kachin capital Myitkyina as well as leader of the Rawang militia group, formerly known as the Rebellion Resistance Force (RRF) based in Hkawnglanghpu.