The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), which had been toeing the Burmese military junta's line for a long time, is no longer sticking to its neutral stand on the referendum for the new constitution drafted by the junta. Men and women of KIO are now being allowed to involve themselves in the referendum and have been asked to cast the 'Yes' vote, KIO sources said. The volte-face comes three days before voting.
The official announcement to all KIO controlled areas in Kachin State came after KIO leaders held a series of meeting on the referendum in Laiza headquarters on the Sino-Burma border in Kachin State in northern Burma, KIO leaders told KNG.
On May 7, three days before the referendum to approve the constitution, KIO brass, both Vice-president Lt-Gen. Gauri Zau Seng and Vice-chairman Lt-Gen. N'ban La Awng explained at a special public and organizational meeting in Laiza on why the KIO has allowed its men and women to get involved in the referendum, participants said.
The meeting was held in Laiza public hall, Myulawt Wunli Lu Gawknu and was attended by over 1,000 people including men and women in service and civilians, a participant added.
Lt-Gen. Zau Seng and Lt-Gen. N'ban La Awng did not utter anything directly supporting the referendum but the special speeches both leaders delivered made it amply clear that the KIO men and women would vote 'Yes' in the referendum, participants said.
However, civilian residents of Laiza told KNG today, the KIO leaders have suggested that all men and women in service would cast the 'Yes' ballot excluding civilians because the KIO has accepted the junta's seven-step roadmap to democracy in Burma.
Talking about the meeting to the KNG today, Lt-Gen. Zau Seng, "We explained whether Kachins should indulge in Burma politics or Kachin politics? We should emphasize on 'Kachin politics' rather than 'Burma politics.'
Zau Seng added, "We explained that the main priority of Kachin politics in the future is something we have to think about."
He denied that the KIO has suggested to both civilians and men and women in service in KIO to cast 'Yes' votes in the referendum.
In February, the KIO had officially notified the organization that all KIO members, all Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers and all civilian members of Kachin Independence Council (KIC) were being forbidden to involve themselves in the referendum on May 10.
At the moment, hundreds of KIO, KIA men and women in uniform are urgently applying for Burma's temporary registration cards (NRC) in Laiza as of yesterday and the application deadline is today (May 9), KIO officials in Laiza said.
Immigration officers and volunteers from Myitkyina and Waingmaw have also arrived.
