May 2004

May 30 — Burma’s Ministry of Construction and Chinese Htain Min Road Construction and Maintenance Co., Ltd agree to build 58 miles (95 kilometers) long road between Kachin State capital Myitkyina and Kambaiti, near Chinese border. The estimate budget is US $3.2 million.

May 27 — Kachin Independence Organization, or KIO, releases three leaders of the January alleged coup attempt— Brig-Gen Hpauyam Tsam Yan, Lt-Col Padip Gam Awng and Rev N’hkum Doi La— in its headquarters Pajau.

May 25 — Former Kachin Independence Organization’s Intelligence chief Col Lasang Awng Wa and his members took refuge in the Pang Wa, headquarters of New Democratic Army-Kachin. Lasang Awng Wa, one of the January coup leader, arrived in Pang Wa since early of May.

May 15 — National League for Democracy party and United Nationalities Alliance, or UNA, boycott the junta’s National Convention.

May 14 — Delegates from fifteen ceasefire groups, which promised to attend National Convention, met with Burmese Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt yesterday morning.

May 7 — Kachin Independence Organization’s delegates led by Dr. Tu Ja, Vice Chairman 2, arrive in Rangoon to attened National Convention.

May 6 — A Kachin scholar Luke Tang Gyi has been granted a lifetime achievement awards from US based Fordham University for his work as a civil engineer and a leader in the Catholic community in Burma.

May 2 — Leaders of Kachin Independence Organization and New Democratic Army-Kachin, and ten member National Convention delegates from both groups and various Kachin religious leaders hold a prayer service for National Convention.