30 April – 6 May: Ban Ki-moon Highlights the Plight of Kachin People as Fighting Intensifies

May 7, 2012

Last week saw the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, visit Burma and become the first overseas dignitary to speak at the Parliament. He also took the time to consult with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein regarding the nascent changes over the last twelve months. While he was full of praise of recent developments it is important not to lose sight the actual situation for most people in Burma. As Naw May Oo Mutraw, a Karen National Union negotiator, pointed out to journalists in Bangkok last week, “The current reform process is not yet irreversible” and yet the “international community displays its excitement beyond measure.”

An issue of grave concern to Ban Ki-moon, and one in which the international community certainly should not be excited about, is the on-going conflict in Kachin State, which he states is “inconsistent with the successful conclusion of ceasefire agreements with all other major groups.” This inconsistency has manifested itself in around 70,000 refugees, numerous cases of rape, forced labor, child soldiers being forcibly recruited, torture, and the burning of villages in Kachin State by the Burma Army.

The conflict, and the resulting human rights violations, does not show signs of abating. While the Kachin Independence Orgnization (KIO) has offered to enter a fourth round of peace talks in Prang Ngawn Village, Loi Je Township, near the Chinese border, the authorities have not responded. This offer was in response to the government’s proposal of a fourth round of peace talks in Myitkyina. The KIO rejected this as Myitkyina is under government control. There is a distinct lack of trust of the Burma Army and a fear that they will ignore government orders not to attack, as they did in December and January.

At the time of the invitation to government-controlled Myitkyina for peace talks, the Burma Army started to become increasingly aggressive and attacks have been increasing since. A Kachin Independence Army (KIA) official told DVB, “They are preparing to attack the KIA base in Laiza….they have reinforced a lot of the troops and sent a lot of artillery but have not attacked yet.” While the Burma Army is preparing for a major and imminent attack on KIA headquarters in Liaza, it has the nerve to blame KIO ‘hard-liners’ for stalling the peace process in the state-run newspaper, New Light of Myanmar.

The real reason why the three-step peace process that the Thein Sein government is attempting to implement is not bringing peace is that it is inherently flawed. This process involves firstly a cease-fire, then development in Kachin State, before thirdly and finally reaching a political settlement. For the KIO, however, this is unacceptable and they only need to point to precedent to prove this. This precedent was articulated in a Kachin Development Network Group (KDNG) report released this week that traced the history of Kachin State’s ‘development’ since the initial ceasefire of 1994. Without a political solution to the underlying problems and grievances, and a focus on economic development, Kachin State saw widespread illegal logging, gold and jade mining, and the construction of huge energy-producing dams. The consequences have been disastrous for the region. Environmentally, widespread pollution of water, diverted rivers and depleted forests have damaged the health of both local wildlife and local people. Socially, land confiscation and the lack of protection for local people have led to a huge increase in drug abuse, prostitution and thus HIV, extreme poverty and higher crime rates. Economically, the benefits of natural resource extraction have gone to Chinese companies, corrupt officials, businessmen and military commanders in Burma.

This is why the KDNG conclude that “the experience in Kachin State is clear. Without a political resolution first, there can be no just or sustainable development of our country.” This is strikingly similar to Ban Ki-moon’s remarks in Parliament this week: “The Kachin people should no longer be denied the opportunity that a ceasefire and a political agreement can bring for peace and development.” For sustainable peace and responsible development to occur, there needs to be a political agreement between the government and the KIO/KIA, and indeed, all of Burma’s ethnic armed groups. By forcing development on a region in which there is no political reconciliation, the consequences, as articulated by KDNG, will be devastating.

News Highlights

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD MPs take oath and seats in Parliament

Vice-President Tin Aung Myint Oo, hardliner and former top general close to Than Shwe, reportedly resigns over health issues

Inside Burma

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi warns that Burma needs “sustainable, sound aid”

Burma plans to conduct a national census in 2014, the first in 31 years

President Thein Sein says the government would increase cooperation with international non-governmental organizations, including the United Nations, to offer humanitarian aid and resettlement programs in ethnic areas

Burma’s state-run newspaper reports that 29 Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers and two Burma Army soldiers were killed in recent battles between the two groups; a Burma Army helicopter carrying weapons, ammunition and food to frontline troops reportedly shells several KIA bases

Chinese authorities issue a warning for its citizens in northern Burma to heighten security measures due to intense fighting between the Burma Army and the KIA

KIA finds large quantity of amphetamines at an abandoned Burma Army post

Shan State Army South says it has been attacked at least 14 times since the ceasefire agreement with the Burma Army was signed on 2 December 2011; Shan State Army North says it has been forced to fight 13 clashes with the Burma Army since 28 January this year when it signed its ceasefire agreement

Burma’s National Human Rights Commission says it is prepared to handle cases with strong evidences of human rights abuses reported by the media (Burmese)

Over 7,800 acres of farmland in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Division, is confiscated by presidential order for a copper mine project

China Power Investment Corporation staff visit relocated villagers and offer benefits to win their support for resumption of Myitsone Dam project

Two New Mon State Party members serving life prison sentences are released from prison following negotiations between the group and the government

Committee to Protect Journalists ranks Burma among the 10 worst censored countries in the world

Burma plans to introduce tourist and business visas-on-arrival for ASEAN citizens and Ministry of Hotels and Tourism announces reopening of some restricted areas for tourists (Burmese)

Regional

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi plans to visit Japan later this year to discuss Burma’s political reform process and the country offers to allow more Karen refugees to settle in Japan

Thai Army deploys more troops around Mae Sot, Thailand, due to escalating tensions with the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army after a leader was accused of being a drug trafficker

International

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commits the UN to a substantially expanded role in Burma

Foreign ministers of the United States, Britain and Canada unanimously congratulate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD MPs on becoming Members of Parliament

Melanne Verveer, US Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, travels to Burma to highlight issues concerning women and girls

Germany’s Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, visits Burma

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Opinions

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Statements and Press Releases

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2014 Census in Burma Must Be Universal and Inclusive of Rohingya
By Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, Burmese Rohingya Association Japan, Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia, Burmese Rohingya Community in Norway, Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand and Burmese Rohingya for Democracy in Burma

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