Overseas Kachins Oppose KIO Policy
February 03, 2006

The Kachin Post

Kachins living abroad are revealing their political stand against the current policy of Kachin Independence Organization, a ceasefire group in northern Burma, by not scheduling to recite the KIO president’s message for 45th anniversary of Kachin Revolution Day.

We will not put the agenda of reading the message from KIO president in this year’s ceremony, said an organizer of Kachin Revolution Day in London, United Kingdom. The organizer, who asked not to be named, said, Kachin community abroad always read the message from the president of KIO on this occasion to taste the revolutionary spirit for overseas Kachins.

However, overseas Kachins feels that KIO president message for this year shouldn’t be read as the message is just reinforcement for National Convention which is convened by Burmese military government, the organizer said. The message, which was released at the end of January, didn’t mention anything about an incident where five KIO members were gunned down by Burma Army in earl of last month. Many overseas Kachins denounced the shoot out incident, considering that is an insulted action against Kachins.

Kachin communities in United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Japan, India and Malaysia will celebrate 45th anniversary of Kachin Revolution Day on 5th February.

Kachins launched revolution, under the leading role of Kachin Independence Organization, against Burmese government in February 5, 1961 to gain independence Kachin Land. KIO, however, signed a ceasefire agreement with Burmese military government in 1994. The organization still maintains ceasefire agreement even though Burma Army gunned down over a dozen KIO members in ten years.