The 62nd anniversary of Kachin State Day was observed worldwide by Kachin ethnic communities, who vowed to fight for their rights and freedom.
This official logo was released for 62nd Kachin State Day by the Central Kachin Cultural Committee based in the state's capital Myitkyina, northern Burma.Ethnic Kachin people, who live in the majority in Northern Burma and in different countries such as Europe, Asia and United States, celebrated the 62nd anniversary of the state day since early January.
On January 1, at Ribe city in Denmark, about 60 ethnic Kachin people from Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden observed state day, said a participant.
The organizers, the Kachin National Organization in Denmark (KNO-DK) and the Kachin community in Denmark said about the ceremony that there was reading of the history of how Kachin State Day came about. Participants were advised and discussions held over the current situation and political, social and economic problems in Kachin people.
In Japan over 100 people attended the State Day ceremony on January 10.
Kachin in United Kingdom also marked the 62nd anniversary of the State, said a source, who attended the event.
“We need to protect our culture, rights, freedom and language from the oppression of the regime, which is trying to destroy it...,” said KNO-DK in a statement to encourage all Kachin living around the world.
KNO pointed to the real hope of the forefathers of the Kachin people to gain full statehood with self determination, self government and equal rights on February 12, 1947 from the Panglong agreement signed by Burma’s independence father Gen. Aung San after freedom from British rule.
“Prior to Burma’s independence, Kachin people’s primary desire was to gain complete independence and strive to gain status of a sovereign nation,” said KNO in the statement.
And the first Kachin State Day was celebrated on January 10, 1948 in Myitkyina, Manau field where the recent event was held, said KNO.
Kachin people in Northern Burma have been celebrating the week-long State Day from 5 to 11 January in Myitkyina the capital of Kachin State but have faced restrictions including heavy censorship of its daily newspaper, tight security and close monitoring by the military junta..
As the new era on Kachinland dawns people are being threatened by the junta’s plans to build dams in the state which could lead to thousands of people becoming homeless and over a million could die from floods if the dams collapse, according to a Kachin environmental group.
