Despite international pressure and condemnation, the Burmese military junta is still avoiding taking action against rapists in Kachin State, northern Burma.

There was an instance of rape again in Kachin State in Loiije Township. A married woman, Sumlut Roi Ji (33) was gang raped by two Burmese construction workers, U Thein Tun Lyin (40) and U Thein Myint Swe (29) from Loije on September 21. But no action has been taken yet, a resident said.

According to a resident, Sumlut Roi Ji, who has a four-year old child, was going back home from their farm which is on the way from Bhamo to Loije. The workers followed Sumlut Roi Ji and gang raped her near Win Hkam village.

The two workers threatened Sumlut Roi Ji with a knife and gagged her. The incident occurred at around 3 pm, a resident added.

That evening, after the gang rape, the couple went to the junta's Loije police station to register a complaint. The police arrested the rapists on September 22 and detained them at the Loije police station, a resident close to Sumlut Roi Ji told KNG.

Meanwhile, Sumlut Roi Ji's family is upset because though two weeks have passed the authorities still have not taken any action on the rapists. They feel the police are trying to hush up the case, he added.

However, now Loije's Kachin Literature and Culture organization has sent a letter to the authorities in Kachin State to take action on the rapists.

According to a resident, this is the first instance of the gang rape in Loije. Residents have urged the authorities to ensure that there is no recurrence.

On July 27, a Kachin schoolgirl, Nhkum Hkawn Din (15) was gang raped and killed by Burmese Army soldiers in Bhamo District in Kachin State, northern Burma.