Burmese soldiers in civilian clothes attack and rob Kachin civilians
In Myitson, near a dam construction site on the Irrawaddy, soldiers raid and rob money and valuables. The humanitarian crisis caused by the civil war is getting worse for at least 20,000 refugees. Kachin refugees in India express their support for the rebel struggle.
Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Myanmar army soldiers have attacked and robbed Kachin civilians, local sources said. Dressed in civilian clothes, members of the military have raided villages and robbed travellers. Meanwhile, ethnic Kachins who found refuge in Singpho, in the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh, have pledged support for the armed struggle against Myanmar government forces.
In the last few weeks, civil war has broken out in Kachin State, a region in northern Myanmar on the border with China, between the rebels of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Myanmar forces.
The KIA is the second largest armed group in size and importance in Myanmar. Recently, its leaders have authorised a series of targeted lightening strikes against central government troops and facilities.
For their part, Burmese soldiers have attacked and stolen jewels and other valuables from civilians in Myitsone, near the dam under construction on the Irrawaddy River, some 30 kilometres from the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina.
“Burmese soldiers are doing whatever they like,” local sources explained. In fact, the Burmese military is also preventing residents from using bridges, forcing them to cross swollen rivers and mud covered land.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in kachin state is getting worse with at least 20,000 Kachins forced to flee the conflict.
Human rights activists have complained that the Kachin live under oppression, subjected to all sorts of violence, from robberies and mass rape to targeted killings (cf “Aung San Suu Kyi asks for "peace" for her birthday. Kachin raped and killed by the military,” in AsiaNews, 20 June 2011)
Kachin living in India back the KIA’s struggle and armed resistance against the Burmese army.
The Singpho Development Society (SDS) is deeply concerned about the suffering of the Kachin people, who are caught in the middle of the civil war.
At the same time, the KIA is in “the right in this war”. In fact, after 17 years of ceasefire, there is “no evidence of progress and development” for the Kachin people. Instead, they continue to suffer “economically, socially and politically”.
Ultimately, it is time for them to earn full title to their land.
In the last few weeks, civil war has broken out in Kachin State, a region in northern Myanmar on the border with China, between the rebels of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Myanmar forces.
The KIA is the second largest armed group in size and importance in Myanmar. Recently, its leaders have authorised a series of targeted lightening strikes against central government troops and facilities.
For their part, Burmese soldiers have attacked and stolen jewels and other valuables from civilians in Myitsone, near the dam under construction on the Irrawaddy River, some 30 kilometres from the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina.
“Burmese soldiers are doing whatever they like,” local sources explained. In fact, the Burmese military is also preventing residents from using bridges, forcing them to cross swollen rivers and mud covered land.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in kachin state is getting worse with at least 20,000 Kachins forced to flee the conflict.
Human rights activists have complained that the Kachin live under oppression, subjected to all sorts of violence, from robberies and mass rape to targeted killings (cf “Aung San Suu Kyi asks for "peace" for her birthday. Kachin raped and killed by the military,” in AsiaNews, 20 June 2011)
Kachin living in India back the KIA’s struggle and armed resistance against the Burmese army.
The Singpho Development Society (SDS) is deeply concerned about the suffering of the Kachin people, who are caught in the middle of the civil war.
At the same time, the KIA is in “the right in this war”. In fact, after 17 years of ceasefire, there is “no evidence of progress and development” for the Kachin people. Instead, they continue to suffer “economically, socially and politically”.
Ultimately, it is time for them to earn full title to their land.
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