Ethnic Chin, Kachin, Ta-ang, Arakan and Burmese youths held a peaceful protest in front of the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC) in Yangon on 22nd November to protest the killing of 23 cadets at the KIO officer training school by government forces on 19th November.
At 9.30am ethnic youths holding wreaths started their march from Pa-Don-Mar Park, Pyay Road to the Uwisara Road. They then laid the wreaths in front of the MPC.
Ko Htein Lin Aung, a Burmese youth said: “As a Burmese person I feel sorrow over the loss of our ethnic youth brothers. I am sad that these kinds of deaths due to artillery fire can occur under a democratic system of governance. I feel sorrow. That is why I am taking part in this Black Protest.”
Of the 23 deceased cadets 11 were from the Ta-ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), eight were from the Arakan Army (AA), two were from the Chin National Front/Army (CNF/A) and two were from the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABDSF).
Mai Thin Yu Mon from the Chin Youth Network said: “This tragedy is a backward step for the peace process. It is the responsibility of the MPC to sort out this problem.”
Bo Bo, a Karen youth, said: “Regarding the attack on this cadet school our black clothes and the wreaths are to show our condolences for the fallen people. In this matter we want the MPC, which is also responsible for peace, to know that the life of a human is not as easily destroyed as the life of an ant.”
Ma Htwe Sein, an Arakan woman said: “We only want peace. We cannot accept the way they have been using the word peace. Whenever they want to look good they use the word peace. This was not a face to face attack, it was an underhand attack.”
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
