Three civilians die in Kachin State as Myanmar govt. launches offensive
DIMAPUR, January 16 (MExN): The Government of Myanmar has taken its war with the Kachins to its civilians. Rocket shells fired by the Myanmar Government Army on the morning, 8:05 am, of January 14, in the Hka Kyang Quarter of Laiza town in the Kachin State of Myanmar, led to the death of three civilians and injured four persons. “This is the first time that towns and civilian areas have been targeted,” wrote the Kachin Peace Network in a statement that seeks support to “stop the offensive war in Kachin”.
Kachin is the northernmost State of Myanmar, bordering China to its north and east, Shan State to its south, and Sagaing Division and India to its west. The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and its armed wing Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has renewed its demand for increased Kachin autonomy after a ceasefire with the Government of Myanmar broke down after 17 years in June 2011. It is the only significant armed group in Myanmar that the Government has failed to reach an agreement with. Laiza is the de-facto headquarters of the KIA.
According to the Kachin Peace Network, war flights continue to fly above Je Yang and Hpung Lum Yang Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, as well as Laiza town and Mai Ja Yang town. This has caused extreme fear amongst civilians, including people in camps and children. Civilians already killed in these strikes are Mr. Hpauyu Doi San Awng (age 15), Mr. Nhkum Bawk Naw (age unknown) and Mr. Hpungtau Malang Yaw (age 76). Those injured are Mrs. Lagoi Sau Nam (age 38), Jangma Bawk San (age 2—daughter of Lagoi Sau Nam), Ms. Langjaw Nu Jai (age 8, seriously injured) and Ms. Nang Zing Roi Ji (age 56, seriously injured).
Air attacks are also being conducted in Hka La Yang, near Laiza, every day since December 24, 2012, and Jan Mai Bum and Lagat Bum, near Mai Ja Yang since January 12 this year. On January 13, the community marked one month anniversary of air strikes by the Government on Kachin State in Pang Wa area.
Meanwhile, the UN, the US Government, Amnesty International, other ethnic groups and civil society members have asked the government of the Union of Myanmar to stop the offensive.
“Both the army and the KIA must ensure that civilians caught in the conflict area are protected. The three tragic deaths in Laiza shows that there are real concerns that civilian lives might be at risk if indiscriminate fire is used,” said Isabelle Arradon, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director.
“We urge the Myanmar authorities to immediately launch an investigation into the attack on 14 January and to determine if international laws of war were violated.”
“We, as a group of peace advocates representing the voices of civil society living inside Myanmar would like to call upon your immediate response or any actions that will help for the lives of over 100,000 Kachin in order to protect their security and safety,” said the Kachin Peace Network in a letter via email it managed to send out to civil society members known to them.
