Kachin

A report by Free Burma Rangers has recorded renewed offensives by government forces in Northern Shan State and Mali Yang in Kachin State. The fighting in Kachin State started in 2011, and in spite of attempts to negotiate a ceasefire the conflict has continued. The FBR estimate that fighting has led to more than 100,000 internally displaced and in June…

Since coming to power in 2011, President Thein Sein, a former general, has initiated a plan to resolve Burma’s decades-long ethnic conflict as part of broader domestic reform programs. Burma observers, both inside and outside, agree that resolving ethnic conflict is central to the success of political reform and lasting peace in the country. Among other things, President Thein Sein…

Frontline humanitarian organization, the Free Burma Ranger report that the Burma Airforce continues to bombard Kachin Independent Army positions using jet fighters. The Free Burma Rangers said in a statement released this week that the Burma military has focused its attacks around Nam Lim Pa village. “On the 18th and 19th of May alone clashes continued for many hours and…

Burma Army soldiers from the 88th Division have allegedly killed two civilians, including a 103-year-old, in Kachin State. The incident, which occurred on the 21st of March at around 10:30 in the morning, saw soldiers from two battalions attack Mahtek Village, in Mansi Township near the Kachin Independence Army’s 27th Battalion area. Villagers fled the attack and sought refuge in…

Free Burma Rangers, a frontline provider of medical aid to displaced civilians in Burma, said that government forces killed a Kachin family of three on the 23 of March. The Kachin conflict erupted in June 2011 when the Burma Army attacked Kachin Independence Army positions, shattering a 17-year-long ceasefire. FBR said that Burma Army soldiers from the 10th Infantry Battalion…

On December 22, a China-Myanmar joint venture developing a copper mine in central Myanmar announced that it had gained “broad community support” to continue the controversial project and that it would be expanding the area covered by the mine. The day ended with 56-year old Daw Khin Win shot dead and two other villagers injured as police opened fire with…

The bodies of at least three villagers found in Nam Lim Pa, Kachin State, on January 30th show signs of torture, with the remains of another four also found in a neighbouring village, locals and a humanitarian organisation have reported. Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organisation that delivers aid to conflict zones in Burma, accused the Burma Army of being…

The London based human rights advocacy organization, Burma Campaign UK, confirmed reports that two ethnic Kachin teachers were raped by Burma Army soldiers 19th and 20thJanuary. In a media statement Burma Campaign UK called on the British government to use its Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative and send a team to Burma “to investigate the case.” Burma Campaign UK urged the…

Burmese authorities have arrested a Kachin man after he alleged his daughter was shot and killed by the Burma Army, leading to condemnation by international human rights organisations. An alliance of human rights organisations responded following the man’s arrest by sending an open letter last month to President U Thein Sein calling for the man’s release, named as Shayam Brang…

A Thai based advocacy group, representing ethnic Kachin women, has issued a statement condemning the latest military offensives by the Burma Army in Kachin State, that threatens the lives of “tens of thousands of civilians.” The Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand (KWAT) said it abhorred the latest violence in Kachin State. Government soldiers continued to attack Kachin Independence Army positions…