Open Letter to KIO Leaders

By Namhtum Pahtau/ An Ordinary Kachin Citizen

December 4, 2003— Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) are ready to attend the Junta’s so-called “National Convention” which will be held in early 2004. The day they attend that ‘convention’ would surely be one of the saddest days for the political history of Kachin.

It is fruitless to criticize the participation of NDA-K in this convention since it has made “Eternal-Ceasefire- Agreement” with Junta in 1989. Thus, its doing of whatever satisfies generals from its part is reasonable. Moreover, though NDA-K is nominally a political party, a mere mafia-like gang exists only for accumulating wealth from its very beginning.

At the same time, there would be no reason to oppose or effort to stop KIO’s decision on National Convention is unnecessary if the participation of KIO would base on its own decision. However, the issue addressed here is the question as to why the generals have named KIO leaders “Kachin Amyotha Gaung Saung Mya” from the very beginning of the ceasefire talk in early of last decade. Needless to say that the KIO leaders have already known what the reason is.

KIO leaders should have known that has the Kachin people conferred power them to represent all Kachin at the National Convention? KIO leaders are saying that the representatives have been chosen by “Kachin National Consultative Assembly”, it was founded in end of 2002. Most of the leading members of the Assembly are KIO and NDA-K leaders.

For the delegates of both groups to National Convention, it is obvious that they are not chosen by the Kachin public, for all ten of them are from KIO and NDA (K). Even the representatives of Junta will never represent the public. Except few neighbors of Burma, the whole world is against the “Road-map” proposed by Gen Khin Nyunt, Prime minister of Burmese military government. Thus, it is appropriate to raise the question as to what kind of political benefit do the KIO leaders see in this convention for the whole Kachin public.

If there is no delegation of power from Kachin public to KIO, it should openly and honestly confess that it is going to go to the convention for itself and not for the whole Kachin public. Has KIO lost its integrity and bravery to do so?

Even if KIO leaders have to do such unnecessary things unwillingly for their own existence and security, they should not try to save their already-loosing face secretly. Instead, KIO leaders should honestly make this known to the whole Kachin public by signaling “S.O.S” for seeking possible solutions of the future of Kachin.

Alternatively, if KIO leaders strongly believe in the ideology of the Military Junta, no one should say anything against it. If so, KIO leaders should rather come out from present uncomfortable location and move their offices to a city like Myitkyina, a capital of Kachin State, or the purpose of having free political activities in a comfort zone. However, they should not continue calling themselves as leaders KIO, the name bought and protected by the blood of brave comrades, the fallen stars of the past, who gave their lives for what they believed in independence Kachinland.

It is acceptable for all of us, when KIO present leaders say that we are witnessing and being affected by paradigm shift of global political realm. It is also agreeable that the strategies of KIO should also be changed accordingly. One should also know how to draw the demarcation between the changing of one’s strategies and the changing of his goal. The change of strategy is one thing and the change of goal is another.

We Kachin people have enough troubles created and caused by Junta. Thus, my sincere request to you is not to add any more trouble to Kachin people as Kachin proverb “ Hka Hta Marang Jat”.

It is my opinion that the Junta’s days are counted. The dying Junta is jerking and taking its last breath. KIO leaders should not mingle with it, instead you should stay away from the generals until they pass away. Surely, the time will come when everybody’s dream comes true. My encouragement to you KIO leaders is to stand firm and to be patient.

Let us wait and see what happens. Alternatively, will you say that since everybody considers us as the same with junta and we will dance tango with generals one day, we must blindly proceed? It is up to you to decide for your own future, but do not try to take the position of making the decision for the future of the whole Kachin. Or else, you may need to pay back for any bad decision you would like to make now. We still love you and consider as our own blood-related fellow citizens. May God give you wisdom to handle any kind of situation in a hard time.

Namhtum Pahtau is a NGO workers based in United States of America. He contributes to his opinion to The Kachin Post. The views expressed here are the author’s own.