Kachin and Supporters Protest at Embassy in Bangkok; Deliver Letter to President Thein Sein

By Burma Partnership • June 5, 2012

Around 40 people staged a protest at the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok today to criticize the ongoing armed conflict and humanitarian crisis in Kachin State. The protesters, members of the Kachin community in Bangkok and representatives from the Overseas National Students of Burma, read out a statement and the text of a letter addressed to President Thein Sein calling for an end to the crisis situation. See photos from the protest here.

“The Burma Army must immediately stop targeted attacks against civilians in Kachin State, and engage in genuine peace negotiations towards a political solution to the conflict. Without this, the people and especially the women of Kachin State will continue to suffer,” said Hkawng Seng Pan, Deputy Coordinator of the Kachin Women’s Association – Thailand.

An official from the Embassy met the protesters and accepted the letter. It was endorsed by 71 Kachin organizations and communities around the world, as well as regional and international non-governmental organizations. Read the letter in English and Burmese here.

“This is a crucial time for us Kachin and our supporters to call on the Burma Army to halt attacks on civilians and urge the government to finally solve the conflict and stop the humanitarian crisis. The people of Kachin State cannot suffer like this for another year,” said Naw San, General Secretary of the All Kachin Students and Youths Union.

June 9 will mark one year since fighting broke out between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Organization. Today’s protest is one of many global actions being organized in at least 11 countries around the world. For more information on these actions and the situation in Kachin State, Kachin organizations will be holding a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand in Bangkok, on June 8. See more details here.

For more information, please contact:

Hkawng Seng Pan: +66846135704 or [email protected]

Naw San: +66848119594 or [email protected]

Tags: Armed Conflict, Burma Partnership, Humanitarian Assistance, Kachin State

This post is in: Press Release

Kachin and Supporters Protest at Embassy in Bangkok; Deliver Letter to President Thein Sein

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