The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has refused to accept Kachin State Red Cross's offer to provide household appliances for more than 1000 Kachin refugees living in KIO controlled areas.
The Kachin State Red Cross made the offer to the KIO through the Peace Coordination Group (PCG) but were turned down, according to PCG member Lamai Gum Ja.
The Red Cross has already got permission from the President’s Office and the Kachin State government, but KIO said it will not accept the offer.
“We plan to give household appliances to more than 1300 families. But the KIO refuse to accept the offer. So, we cannot go there. We cannot do anything,” Gea Nit, Spokesman of the Kachin State Red Cross, told Mizzima.
The KIO turned down the offer because in accordance with its central committee policy, they cannot accept aid from the government until they establish stable peace with the government, according to Gae Nit.
The Kachin State Red Cross is a branch of Myanmar Red Cross and therefore, the KIO refused the offer. If donors from Denmark and Singapore can make the donations directly without routing it through the government the KIO might accept the offer, said Gae Nit.
The household appliances were donated by the Denmark Red Cross and the Singapore Red Cross, but their representatives could not come to Myanmar. Therefore, the Kachin State Red Cross and Myanmar Red Cross planned to travel to the area to distribute the household appliances.
The Denmark and Singapore Red Cross have already donated relief material for refugees in Myitkyina, Waimaw and Bhamo townships. This time they planned to provide relief for war refugees in Laiza, Kachin State.
Similarly, in December 2011, the KIO had refused to accept aid donated by the Kachin State Rescue and Resettlement Committee and relief material such as rice-bags and jackets donated by MP Thein Zaw.
When Mizzima inquired Dau Hka, a member of a KIO 'work group’ about plans to hold peace talks between KIO and the Union Peace Making Committee, he responded that he did not have information about when the meeting would be held.
“With regard to the proposed meeting with the government, we will have information only after ‘central’ informs us. The meeting will be held, but I still do not know the date. I talked to the members of MPC about three days ago,” he said.
On May 30, the government and the KIO agreed to further dialogue, but peace talks have not been held yet.
