KIO plans for dialogue with SPDC
The Kachin Post / June 09, 2009

A high-ranking Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the arms wing of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), officer says that the organization is planning for a dialogue with Burmese military junta amid mounting pressure to transform all ethnic cease-fire groups to Border Guard Force (BGF).  

Brig-Gen Sumlut Gun Maw, the vice chief-of-staff of KIA, told The Kachin Post that the organization strives to initiate a dialogue with junta, even though the pressure has been snowballing to transform  KIA into Border Guard Force. “We’ll inquire and discuss the detail procedure of BGF plan,” said Gun Maw. “It’s impossible to transform an army overnight.”

KIO reportedly acknowledges the junta’s idea on transforming all ethnic armies into Border Guard Force. However, the organization believed to be launched a political dialogue with junta by using BGF plans as a tool. The organization’s leaders have met twice with junta representatives on April 28 and May 21, 2009, delivering no concrete reply for BGF plan.

The chief-of-staff of the Kachin Independence Army Maj-Gen Gunhtang Gam Shawng reportedly rejected the junta’s Border Guard Force, expressing to solve political problems first, before transforming the KIA.

In early of June 2009, KIO has formed 7 members delegation-committee to discuss with junta regarding the issue of BGF plan.

Meanwhile in Shan State, Burmese Military Affairs Security Chief Lt-Gen Ye Myint has been conducting a series of meeting with leaders of ethnic cease-fire armies. Kokang and Wa leaders reportedly rejected the junta’s Border Guard Force plan, confirming the groups want to maintain their status quo as before.