June 2004
June 30 — Bawmwang La Raw, the leader of the Kachin National Organization, or KNO, was declared as the No. 1 obstructive enemy of the Kachin Independence Organization, or KIO. According to the June 23 statement of KIO central committee, Bawmwang La Raw was accused of being a mastermind of the January coup attempt at the KIO headquarters in Pajau.
June 29 — Former intelligence chief of Kachin Independence Organization, or KIO, Col. Lasang Awng Wa, said that he will try to establish a new KIO and Kachin Independence Army, or KIA, that reflects the desires of the Kachin people. He is now leading a political movement along with over 800 members in Pang Wa, headquarters of New Democratic Army-Kachin, or NDA-K.
Col. Lasang Awng Wa has been in Pang Wa since last May with the help of Zahkung Ting Ying, the leader of NDA-K. Maj Padip Gam Awng and Rev Doi La, who were just released from detention of KIO after the January coup attempt in KIO headquarters, are also involved in that movement in Pang Wa.
June 28 — A Kachin Baptist Pastor Doi La from Laiza, has arrived at Pang Wa, headquarters of New Democratic Army-Kachin, or NDA-K. Doi La fled to China on June 21 and arrived in Pang Wa on June 26. The Pastor had been detained since January 15 at the KIO headquarters for his involvement in the coup attempt in Pajau. However, KIO decided not to prosecute Doi La because he is a pastor and later requested the Kachin Baptist Convention, or KBC, to judge him.
June 25— The Kachin Baptist Convention held its Pastors Conference at Behtela Baptist Church in Myitkyina from June 21 to 27. Seven American missionaries from the Bethlehem Baptist Church led workshops and discussions with Kachin pastors.
June 23— Members of the National Convention Convening Commission, or NCCC, met with representatives of the Kayan New Land Party in a separate meeting as part of discussions between the government and cease fire groups at the National Convention. Thirteen other ceasefire groups have already submitted a joint proposal to the NCCC. Their proposal demands an amendment to the junta’s six objectives, 104 principles and plans for power sharing. Ceasefire delegates believe that the junta is trying to divide ceasefire groups by meeting with them separately because the junta is opposed to the proposal.
June 23— The Burma Army reinforced its battalions in Kachin State, opening a new Hka-La-Ya (Light Infantry Battalion) 827 in Shing Bwi Yang village on the Ledo Road in early June. On May 28, Burma Army reinforced Hka-La-Ya 141 in Sinbo township with 60 soldiers, a 3.5 mm launcher, and MA-1 assault rifles.
June 21— Kachin Independence Organization’s renegade leader and former Intelligence Chief Col Lasang Awng Wa held a meeting with New Democratic Army-Kachin or NDA-K, leader Zahkung Ting Ying, delegates from the Kachin Defence Army, or KDA, and an officer from the United Wa State Army’s Foreign Affairs Department in Ruili, China from June 6 to 7. Col Lasang Awng Wa fled to China after a coup attempt in KIO headquarters in early January.
June 17— The Kachin Independence Organization held a central committee member meeting in Laiza, a border town close to China. KIO Vice President Gen Gauri Zau Seng and KIO Foreign Affairs and Alliance Department Chief Dr L Ja came from Rangoon to report on the KIO’s role in the National Convention.
June 13— Over 1,800 children attended the Children’s Day ceremony at Shatapru Baptist Church in Myitkyina.
June 16— Kachin Independence Organization announced that it will launch a campaign against the proposed construction of a dam at the confluence of the Irrawaddy River. Last year, Kansai, a Japanese company, surveyed the site for the “Ayeyawady Myitsone Project”. The dam is anticipated to generate 3,100 megawatt per second.
June 15— A new cigarette factory is under construction in Maija Yang. The factory is owned by Laching, the owner of the Four Star Ching Chieng Hotel in Ruili, China.
June 12— An unknown assailant murdered a Chinese woman at the Maija Yang Casino. Maija Yang is a border village within Kachin Independence Organization administered area, where Chinese and local businessmen have set up casinos.
June 3—Sumpawng Ja Nan, a child care teacher, from Baan Mai, a Kachin village in Thailand, was arrested by Thai police after people who are jealous of her work tipped off Thai authorities. Sumpawng Ja Nan operated a child care centre and computer training classes funded by the Mary Knoll Catholic Mission.
June 1— Two Kachin businessmen, who are close to Ara La, are hard pressed to find 7.3 million yuan (US $ 881,000) to pay the Kachin Independence Organization after Ara La’s escape from house arrest at the KIO headquarter in early January. Ara La, a close aide of former KIO leader Gen Zau Mai, was released from detention in October 2003 and put under house arrest after Kachin businessmen, including Yup Zau Hkawng and N’sang Tu Awng, served as guarantors that he would not escape. The KIO arrested Ara La, who assisted in managing KIO finances during Zau Mai’s rule, for embezzling KIO funds.
The KIO unofficially confiscated Yup Zau Hkawng’ Jade Land Myanmar Co., Ltd, and N’sang Tu Awng’s N’mai Hka Drinking Water Co., in May after a April 30th deadline for Ara La’s surrender. Both Kachin tycoons had previously agreed to hand over their companies to the KIO if Ara La fled.
