Kachin State Day celebrated 62nd anniversary The Kachin Post / January 10, 2010 The historic Kachin State Day was commemorated as 62nd anniversary today by Kachin nationals from Burma and around the world, signifying the cradle of the establishment of Union of Burma even though the successive Burmese military authorities have tried to diminish the spirit of the crucial date in Burma’s history.
The Kachin State—the total landscape of 34,379.22 square miles encompassing east to People Republic of China, west to India, South to Shan State and proper Burma—was born on January 10, 1948, a six days after the Burma gained independence from British. It was the first formation of non-Burman ethnic State in Union of Burma.
Today, Kachins celebrates the Kachin State Day in Shatapru Manau Park, where the first Kachin State Day was inaugurated in last 62 years ago. The Kachin State Day Manau festival committee held six-day public celebration from January 5-11, 2010, attracting thousands of commuters from the wholeBurma and neighboring countries.
Most of the Kachin religious, culture and political organization as well asBurma army authorities attended the Kachin State Day Manau festival in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State. Some leaders of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the organization claims for independence Kachin State, also presented with armed guards, defying the prior restrictions from Burma army. KIO, however, has no official statement on the Kachin State Day.
KIO is the one of the largest resistant organization, which is currently under pressure to transform its Kachin Independence Army into Burma Army proposed Border Guard Force. In turn, KIO proposed Burmese military authorities to reconsider Panglong Agreement & 1947 Union of Burma constitution, expressing KIO would abandon its arms struggle if the Burmese junta willing to accept the Panglong Agreement & 1947 constitution.
Prior to Burma independence from British, Kachins leaders made a deal with General Aung San, the leader of Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL), that Kachins would join with Burma proper to gain independence from British only when the integrated Myitkyina and Bhamo districts would be officially granted as the Kachin State. Then, AFPFL led constitutional drafting committee framed the 1947 constitution and passed the final 1947 constitution after the third secession of Constituent Assembly in September 1947, confirming to established the Kachin State within the Union of Burma and granted the right to secession after ten years of independence.
Meanwhile, overseas based Kachin National Organization (KNO) holds Kachin State Day conference in United Kingdom and Japan, as well as KNO members from United State plans to demonstrate Kachin national symbols in-front of Burmese embassy in Washington D.C on January 11, demonstrating against the Burmese military authorities’ abuse on Kachin national’s rights, culture and literature.
“Whiping out historically ethnic areas and cultures in any shape or form (i.e. directly or indirectly) must be stopped,” KNO declared in its statement issued today. “We aim to defend ourselves to survive as a State with its own native people, belief, and culture.”
In needs of safeguarding and nurturing to improve the status of our religion, language, literature, culture and essence of ethnically diverse society, KNO calls citizens of Kachin State to resist passionately to overcome the common enemy which relentlessly eliminate its significant of diversity.
The Kachin State was ruled by the government of Kachin State led by Kachin leaders: Sama Duwa Sinwa Nawng (1948-1953 & 1960-1962), Du Wa Zau Lawn (1953-1956), Zanhta Sin (1957-1958), Duwa Wabaw Zau Rip (1958-1959), Duwa Dingra Tang (1962-1971), Duwa Hpau Yu Hka (1972-1981), Duwa Bawm Ying (1981-1983), Duwa Labang La (1983-1985) and Duwa Maran Zau Yaw (1985-1988).
The tenure of Kachin leaders having been the head of Kachin State was ended after Burma army usurped the country’s power by military coup in 1988. Ever since, the overall situations of citizens of Kachin State were deteriorating due to the abusive and coercive practice of Burma army.
