Will the International Donors leave Kachin people of Burma in the dark?

By Zin Linn Jun 14, 2012 11:01PM UTC


Chairman of the Union Peace-making Central Committee, President of Myanmar (Burma) Thein Sein received a delegation from Peace Donor Support Group (PDSG) coordinators Norway, United Nations, Australia, Britain, the World Bank and European Union at Myanmar International Convention Centre in Naypyitaw on 12 June, the state-run New Light of Myanmar Daily said.

According to the newspaper, the President said that his government has been making efforts focusing on peace and stability and economic development. Peace and stability is the first requirement of the country whose democracy is budding with little democratic experience and practice, he said. Accordingly, his government has taken essential measures so that all can participate in political process, Thein Sein told the PDSG delegation.

In his discussion, the President said that since the government has taken the office, it has made contact with those armed group separately and made contacts and built somewhat understanding with 10 out of 11 armed groups. The government also has initiated contacts with the KIA group in Kachin State and it is believed to see the good results sooner, Thein Sein said.

However, last month, one remarkable meeting of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) was held from May 8 to 9 2012, on the Thai-Burma border. It was attended by the UNFC central executive committee members and top leaders of the member organizations. At this meeting, serious discussion was held on Burma Army’s military offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), as the main target. The UNFC issued a statement with an ultimatum to Burma Army to stop military offensives in Kachin State by June 10, 2012 during the meeting.

The statement said, “if the Burma Army (Government armed forces) does not stop its transgression and military offensives in Kachin State by June 10, 2012, UNFC members, who have agreed ceasefire with U Thein Sein government, have decided to review the peace process and future programs, including the preliminary ceasefire agreements reached.”

The members of the UNFC are Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Karen National Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party ( KNPP), Chin National Front (CNF), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), Pa-ao National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Palaung State Liberation Front ( PSLF), Arakan National Council (ANC), Lahu Democratic Union, Wa National Organization (WNO) and Kachin National Organization (KNO).

At the start of this year, most members of UNFC agreed to a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government. The KNU, which fought against the Burmese government for six decades, also took the ceasefire in January, which publicizes the government’s efforts of peace promise in the country.

There are many different ethnic groups in Burma. The ethic leaders said that it is essential to have ethic unity in order to have development and peace in the country. With the purpose of having this, the government needed to solve the political problems through dialogue and negotiation.

Unfortunately, the UNFC’s deadline to end military offensives in Kachin State has disregarded since riots in Rakhine State arrest public attention. Burma Army’s activities in Kachin State indicate that scenario for an ending to the warfare has died away because more government’s troops has been deployed more and more and fighting has been ongoing almost every day in Kachin and Shan State.

One noteworthy comment in the UNFC’s statement said that the objective of Burma Army’s offensives in Northern Shan State and Kachin State is to protect foreign investments’ mega business projects. The UNFC members oppose brutal military offensives and the killing of fellow citizens, for the benefit of foreign interest. UNFC members also support the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Kachin people’s militia and their allied forces resisting transgression of the government’s aggressive forces.

Meanwhile, the state media highlighted that the Australian Ambassador had strongly supported the reform process of Myanmar (Burma). The Australian Foreign Minister had paid a visit to Myanmar and contributed USD 5 Million for health care services. The British ambassador said the British Prime Minister recognized reforms and fully support implementing the process based on partnership. He said Britain would provide US$ 5 million assistance package for currently needed sectors and US$ 300 million for coming three years.

Besides, the EU resident envoy said to assist Euro 150 million for development programmes in 2012-2013 fiscal year. EU planned to provide technical assistances and initial cash aid package of Euro 3-4 million for clearing landmines and would provide sector-wise assistances. The World Bank is in negotiation with Myanmar officials to provide cash and technical assistances in construction of infrastructures and socioeconomic improvement as well as in paying debts. After the debts have been paid off, Myanmar would be able to borrow US$ 300 million yearly.

In contrast, HRW said in its report released on 20 March that the Burmese government has committed serious abuses and blocked humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of displaced civilians since June 2011, in fighting in Burma’s northern Kachin State. Some 75,000 ethnic Kachin displaced persons and refugees are in desperate need of food, medicine, and shelter, HRW said.

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has made constant attempts to talk for a proper peace in Kachin State. However, the Thein Sein government has delayed to talk about political solutions proposed by KIO before a ceasefire.

If Western democracies truly want a satisfactory reform in Burma, they should not neglect the ongoing war in Kachin State which may damage the whole process at any time soon. Even some analysts believe that current Rakhine unrest may not go up into such big volume if the government properly tackles it.

Despite tackling the issue acceptably, government’s media somewhat instigate the racial violence in western Burma. So, some consider the regime’s stance as shifting the people’s awareness from unjust war in Kachin State plus its domestic emergencies. Peace Donor Support Group (PDSG) coordinators should not abandon 75,000 ethnic Kachin displaced persons in the dark.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/84284/will-the-international-donors-leave-kachin-people-of-burma-in-the-dark/