Kachins vow to resist Junta pressure

The Kachin Post / September 06, 2009

www.kachinpost.com

Kachins in northern Burma pledge to remain firmly on their political stand, resisting the uncompromising pressure from Burmese Junta after a public meeting held with Kachin Independence Organization's leaders yesterday in Laiza, the headquarters of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), according to sources from the border town.

A two day public meeting was organized by KIO, amid mounting belligerent pressure from Burmese junta against all ethnic arms organizations to be incorporated under Burma army. The meeting was attended by over 200 local leaders and Churches leaders all over Kachin States as well as leading members from Kachin Consultative Assembly, a public body which serves medium amongst Kachin political organizations and public.

The attendances of meeting strongly support to stand firmly on KIO's latest political demand to transform Kachin Independence Army (KIA)-the arms wing of KIO-into Kachin Regional Guard Force in respond to Junta's Border Guard Force plan.

"This is the bottom line for Kachins," said a meeting participant who asked not to be named. If Burmese junta act us aggressive way, we'll retaliate aggressive means to solve the long standing political problems, he added.

Amongst the meeting, five delegates from Zahkung Ting Ying led New Democratic Army-Kachin, which recently agreed to transformed Border Guard Force under supervision Burma Army, submitted a letter at the meeting, urging KIO to steer Kachins for united and prosperous community. "That is a good sign for we, Kachins," said a KIO member who attends the meeting.

Meanwhile, KIA ordered all its troops to stay on highly alert and shoot any Burmese soldiers encroach to its control areas in Kachin State and northern Shan State. KIA source said that Burma army already deployed its troops into the area link between KIA 4th Brigade based in northern Shan State and Unite Wa State Army (UWSA) territory, trying to cut out links between the two armies.

On the other hand, KIO recently discharged some of its leading members from the organization to from a Kachin political party which is likely to participate in the future election, which is planned to hold in 2010 by Burmese junta.

Recent days, the overseas based Kachin National Organization leader Bawmwang La Raw met with top KIA leaders in Laiza, regarding the current situation and he personally support KIA's recent tactic on preparation against Burmese junta, said a source in Laiza.

Kachin Independence Organization is the one of the major ethnic groups which signed a ceasefire agreement with Burma army in 1994. The organization recently joined military alliance with United Wa State Army (UWSA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) aka Kokang Group, and National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) aka Mongla group.