Karen Newsletter KIC (April-2012)

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Dassk Video Speech George W.Bush Institute 15.may 2012.mp4

WASHINGTON (May 15, 2012): Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday counseled US caution in freezing sanctions, warning that her country could slide back after a year of dramatic reforms.

Suu Kyi, who was sworn in May 2 as a member of parliament after spending most of the past two decades under house arrest, spoke at the launch of a new “Freedom Collection” project by former US president George W Bush.

“I am not against the suspension of sanctions as long as the people of the United States feel that this is the right thing to do at the moment. I do advocate caution, though,” Suu Kyi told the Washington event via Skype.

“I sometimes feel that people are too optimistic about the scene in Burma,” Suu Kyi said, referring to Myanmar by its older name. “You have to remember that the democratization process is not irreversible.”

Thai Burma Border: Protest Nupoe Refugee Camp- 15.05. mp4

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) call for Burmese military to stop offensive against Kachin troops

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for Burmese government, parliamentarians and all the people to work the utmost possible to achieve peace reality in Kachin land

14 May 2012

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) call for Burmese military to stop offensive against Kachin troops who are fighting for equal rights for Kachin people.

Especially, we would like to press here that Burmese President U Thein Sein had called for halting offensive in Kachin state but we are very sad to learn that there are increase fighting between Burmese military and Kachin army even after his presidential order.

We are very much concerned that as the results civilians; especially children, women and elderly are paying the price dearly. These disadvantaged people fleeing from the fighting between two armies are facing very difficult hardships. We would like to call for international community to take every action possible helping these IDPs who desperately need food, shelter and medicine.

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is very sad to learn that there is no sign of reaching peace agreement yet between Kachin Independence Army and Burmese Army but, for the sake of the people and for the sake of the peace in Burma, we would like to call for all parties concerned to work finding peaceful solution by settling differences through dialogue.

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) understands that KIO has requested the Burmese army to honour previous ceasefire agreement by repositioning troops i.e. to withdraw Burmese troops from areas close to Kachin administrative capital Laiza and Headquarter Pa Jau.

KNU Opening Liaison New Office Three Pagoda.wmv

Waking the green Tiger-Video Kachin DNG-english sub

a visit of neigbours of the 2 rivers

KIA creates new battalion near Pangwa

 

  15.may 2012   The Kachin Independence Army created a new battalion near Pangwa last week, the former headquarters of the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K). The bulk of the troops in the KIA’s newest unit, Battalion No. 32, were previously members of an NDA-K faction led by Lauwa Zawng Hkawng who in 2005 was part of failed coup attempt against NDA-K leader Zahkung Ting Ying.

In 2009 the NDA-K was officially dissolved and its 1,000 troops transferred to Border Guard Force units 1001, 1002 and 1003. Many of the NDA-K rank and file resented being transferred to the border guard force. When fighting broke out last month near Pangwa between government troops and the KIO there were widespread defections among the border guard troops who were ex NDA-K.

WAR: 2 Burma army soldiers dead after Myitsone dam clash

Two Burma army soldiers were killed and 4 others injured after weekend clashes between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), near the site of the stalled Myitsone dam project in Kachin state.

According to local residents fighting broke out on Saturday and Sunday on the outskirts of Tang Hpre village, located at the confluence of the of the Mali Hka and N’mai Hka rivers (known locally as Mali Zup or Mali-N’Mai Zup) site of the controversial Mytisone dam project.

Eyewitnesses said they saw Burma troops recover at least 2 dead bodies and four injured soldiers from the area after the fighting ended.  It is unclear what unit or division the Burma army soldiers were from, however the KIA troops involved are thought to have been with the group’s Battalion 4, according to witnesses.

The clashes near the dam the site forced workers from the Myitsone project to flee, according to eyewitnesses.  While the project remains suspended the state-owned Chinese firm behind the dam, China Power Investment (CPI) maintains a workforce of about 200 staff at the site.

In 2010 the entire population of Tang Hpre village, about 27 miles north of the Kachin state capital Myitkyina, was forcibly relocated to make way for the Myitsone dam project.  Despite the fact that President Thein Sein announced last September that the dam would be suspended, none of the more than 2000 people forcibly relocated from five villages near the dam site have been allowed to return home.  Instead their homes have been destroyed and a government owned mining firm has ramped up gold mining in the area.

On May 10 troops from the KIA’s 2nd Brigade took control over a key Burmese army base at Hka Garan Yang village located along the road to Putao north of Myitkyina.

88 Generation Students Burma : Transitory Committee Statement

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KKO Letter of Condolence to Col. Saw Moe Pyu-The funeral of KNLA G2 Saw Moe Pyu-mp4

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