Stalemate over Border Guard Force; KIO

There has been neither negotiation nor agreement made during the last Friday meeting with Burma army northern commander Brig-Gen Soe Win and top Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) leaders in its headquarters, Laiza in Kachin State, according to sources in KIO.

Both sides maintain their demands, even though, Brig-Gen Soe Win persuaded KIO to procure peace by transforming it’s arms wing Kachin Independence Army (KIA) into Border Guard Force under Burma Army.

In July, KIO reportedly stipulated that the organization wants its arms wing KIA to transform Kachin Regional Guard Force (KRGF) under its own control and direct participation of KIO officials in newly formed Kachin State government after 2010 election.

Naypyidaw, the headquarters of Burma army, has reportedly rejected the KIO’s proposal, nonetheless, KIO strive to pursue its goal through peace mediators. On the other hand, Brig-Gen Soe Win and junta representatives in Kachin State are wooing Kachin Christian Church leaders to ask KIO to follow junta’s demand of transforming KIA into Border Guard Force.

Brig-Gen Soe Win said, KIO’s proposed KRGF is lower standard than junta’s proposed BGF, urging KIO to contest upcoming 2010 election and indicating to support KIO vice chairman No. 2 Dr. Tu Ja led Pranwan committee which intends to form Kachin State Progressive Party for future election. The Burma army would help KIO to be voted during the election, Soe Win said during the meeting with Kachin Church leaders in Myitkyina on July 29.

Meanwhile, rumors has been spreading in Kachin State that KIO is well-prepared for the worst situation in case the civil war resume.

Recently, Burma army northern command asked former splinter group members of New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) to form a pro-junta militia group, local sources said. The NDA-K splinter group, led by the group’s former gen-sec Layawk Ze Lum and Kachin businessman Lauwa Zawng Hkawng, staged unsuccessful coup attempt against Zahkung Ting Ying in 2005.

In Kachin State, Zahkung Ting Ying led New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) and Gwi Htu based Lasang Awng Wa group, a splinter group from KIO, insisted to transform BGF under Burma Army. Another junta-backed Rawang militia group called Rebellion Resistant Force (RRF) led by Rawang businessman Tanggu Dang is stationed in Hkawng Lang Hpu area of Puta-O district in northern Kachin State.