Earlier this morning, Kachin nationals living in Thailand held a demonstration outside the Myanmar Consulate in Chiang Mai to protest the Myanmar Tatmadaw’s ongoing offensives in Kachin State.
In a series of Facebook live videos streamed by Kachin media organization Kachin News Group, demonstrators can be seen holding large Kachin Independence Army (KIA) flags, signs with writings such as ‘Withdraw All Government Troops From Ethnic States’ and ‘Ethnic Women Are Not For Rape’, and photos of Kachin citizens injured as a result of the conflicts.
With signs that read ‘We Concern The Missing Of Two Pastors In Mung Koe,’ protestors also specifically called for the government to help find two religious leaders who have been missing since late last month after accompanying media who were reporting on damage to the town.
Since September of last year, the Tatmadaw has been launching large-scale land and air offensives against KIA outposts in the state.
In November, four ethnic armed groups — the KIA, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army – formed a coalition called the Northern Alliance and fought back against Tatmadaw attacks.
Due to the fighting, thousands of Kachin citizens have been displaced and forced to live in makeshift shelters in the middle of winter. A recent report from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs states, “On 27 December more than 2,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Zai Awng/Mungga Zup camp in Waingmaw Township temporarily relocated to makeshift shelters several kilometres north of the town after mortars landed within the vicinity of the camp. Urgent needs amongst the IDPs include shelter, food and NFIs.”
The KIA was formed in 1962 and established itself as independent from the Myanmar military. In 1994, they signed a peace agreement with the Myanmar government and effectively brought a halt to large-scale conflicts.
However, the government break the ceasefire in mid-2011 and fighting consequently resumed between the two parties. The UN estimates that since then, more than 100,000 civilians have been displaced in Shan and Kachin States as a result of the fighting.
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