February 2005

February 28 — Zahkung Ting Ying, leader of New Democratic Army-Kachin, said Kachin Independence Organization, KIO, should be dissolved in sake of forming united Kachin community. He spoke out his criticism during his new house opening ceremony in Muse of Northern Shan State.

February 26 — Distribution, selling and screening of Kachin music and Karaoke VCDs have been banned in Kachin State capital Myitkyina, confiscating VCDs from record stores and video parlors, said residents in town. Police also asked sub-township level authorities to find out and confiscate private own VCD in every household.

Since early of February, police in Myitkyina have been confiscating all kinds of Kachin language music and Karaoke VCDs, giving the reason that Kachin VCDs do not meet the censorship law and some of them do not have military government propaganda slogan “Pyi-Thu-Tha-Baw-Hta”, aka, “People’s Desire”. The slogan, in Burma, is mandatory to put all media materials, including VCD and Karaoke.

February 20 — Chinese are flooding back to Mai Ja Yang, a village filled with Casinos and gambling venues, in Kachin State on Chinese border. At the ends of January, 14 major Chinese owned Casinos in Mai Ja Yang were closed down shortly after Chinese government launched nationwide anti-gambling operation. Afterward, Chinese gamblers and Casino employees left to China.

February 7 — Kachin Independence Organization, KIO, today hold a meeting with Kachin Youth leaders in Myitkyina, briefing about the KIO policy on upcoming National Convention which will be held on February 17. KIO’s deputy chairman II Dr. Tu Ja told youth leaders that National Convention is one of the most important agenda of KIO.

February 3 — Kachin in United States of America will hold 44th anniversary of Kachin Revolution Day on coming Saturday in California. The ceremony was organized by U.S based Kachin Today group which broadcast Kachin language online radio service. The ceremony venue will be at Multi Service Centre, 40086 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, California.

According to the Kachin Today’s invitation announcement, the groups hold the ceremony in honor to those who sacrifice for Kachin revolution as well as it supports the revolution message from president of Kachin Independence Organization and future Kachin national movement.