Kachin students circulated hundreds of anti-regime posters today in Burma’s northern city of Myitkyina, on the inaugural day of the traditional four-day Kachin Manau Festival marking the 63rd anniversary of Kachin State Day, according to student activists.

At the same time, security is increasing in the city and renewed civil war is looming between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the military regime.

About 500 copies of the A4-sized posters were scattered on the roadside using motorcycles near Kachin National Manau Park, in Myitkyina, where the Manau Festival will be celebrated until January 11, a student said.

Local eyewitnesses told the Thailand-based Kachin News Group the posters can be seen on roadsides in Shatapru, Manhkring, Tatkone, N’Jang Dung, Du Kahtawng (Du Mare), Yan Gyi Aung and Aye Yar, the main quarters of the city.

According to student activists, the posters called for the dissolution of the military government and the 2008 constitution, the unconditional release of all political prisoners, as well as ending construction of the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dam.

Naw Awng, a student activist and a leader of the All Kachin Students Union (AKSU), an underground Kachin student organization said, “On behalf of Kachin people and people of Burma, we would like to show that we totally oppose the Burmese military regime.”

Civilian activists distributed posters in Myitkyina twice last year. However, in the past, posters were most often circulated by the AKSU.

At the same time, the Kachin people are unhappy because this year’s Manau Festival is being held under the control of the Burmese military, Manau Committee sources said.