Chronology of Power Struggle within Kachin Independence Organization
The Kachin Post/April 11, 2004
January 4, 2004 — Informal meeting between KIO Central Committee members and leaders of Kachin public and youth begins at the KIO headquarters, Pajau Bum. About 30 Public and youth leaders demand to make a structure change within KIO and withdraw the KIO’s decision to attend the Junta’s National Convention.
January 7, 2004 — Over 300 soldiers from Kachin Independence Army led by Chief of Staff Gen N’ban La and Vice Chief of Staff Col Lazing Bawk seize the headquarters near China Border. Previously, Gen N’ban La was reportedly tipped off information that KIO headquarter was under control and all KIO central committee members including him were ousted, while he is under hospitalized at Kunming, China.
On the same day, KIO’s intelligence chief Col Lasang Awng Wa and his soldiers along with Bawmwang La Raw, a Kachin tycoon and founder of Kachin National Organization KNO, flee to China to avoid infightings.
January 10, 2004 — Major General Hpauyam Tsam Yan, Vice President of Kachin Independence Council and Central Committee member is arrested by accusing him of being a key person behind the coup plot.
January 12, 2004 — Col Padip Gam Awng, aide of Intelligence Chief Col Lasang Awng Wa, is arrested.
January 13, 2004 — KIO forms investigative body to seek pertinent information which will help to find out power struggle within the leaders.
January 14, 2004 — KIO purge General Hpauyam Tsam Yan, Col Lasang Awng Wa and Col Padip Gam Awng from their position, after they are founded guilty of plotting the coup attempt.
January 15, 2004 — A Kachin Pastor Rev Doi La from Laiza was summoned and later put detention for interrogation. He is also accused of involving the coup attempt.
January 17, 2004 — KIO reshuffles five leading positions. Gen Zau Seng become Vice President, Dr Tu Ja become Vice Chairman 2, Col Gunhtang Gam Shawng becomes General Secretary, Col Sumlut Gun Maw becomes Deputy General Secretary and Dr La Ja becomes chief of Foreign Affairs & Alliance Department.
January 18, 2004 — KIO central committee release a statement on coup attempt at the headquarters, saying the coup plot was involved by two senior leader of KIO/KIA and a Kachin outsider, who is believed to be Bawmwang La Raw, a Kachin tycoon living in United Kingdom.
February 24, 2004 — KIO celebrates 10th anniversary of ceasefire agreement with the military government in Laiza, a town on the Chinese border. KIO also issues an amnesty for all soldiers and people, except Col Lasang Awng Wa, General Hpauyam Tsam Yan, Col Padip Gam Awng and Bawmwang La Raw, who were accused of instigating the coup plot. The statement says that every KIA soldiers, who are hiding in fear of arrest, have to report KIO headquarter during the amnesty which will expire on April 24, 2004.
February 26, 2004 — Col Lazing Bawk, Vice Chief of Staff of KIA is assassinated by bomb explosion at the toilet in his home in Laiza.
--------------------------------------------- In February 2001, reformist KIA officers led by Maj N’ban La ousted the General Zau Mai, leader of KIO by staging a coup attempt at the headquarter Pajau Bum.
In 1975, three KIO senior leaders, including founder Zau Seng, were assassinated by KIA soldiers at Tam Ngob, Shan State near Thai Border.
