"We will not secede from Union" - KIO/A

By Kachin News
February 5, 2008

Leaders of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and its armed wing the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have reiterated that they will not secede from the Union of Burma (Myanmar). The announcement was made at a ceremony during today's Kachin Revolution Day, the participants said.

The most powerful leader in KIO/A, Vice President N'ban La Awng rephrased it "We will not secede from the Union. We'd like the Union (Union of Burma) to be sustainable and united. The Union must be sustainable."

"In the Union, we have to respect each other and have equal rights. Now is the time when the government (Burma's ruling junta) is drafting the country's constitution. If the new constitution is good, we will support it", added the KIO/A vice-president.

N'ban La Awng delivered a 30 minutes well-organized speech to thousands of people such as Kachins and other specially invited guest visitors including Shan, Chinese, Gurkha and Palaung. It was unusual that the speech was translated in Burmese language, according to KIO/A officials.

Before the KIO/A vice-president delivered his speech this noon, the six pages of the 47th anniversary of Revolution Day speech was read out as usual by the KIO/A Chairman and President of Kachin Independence Council (KIC), Salang Kaba Lanyaw Zaw Hra. One can also see the anniversary speech in Kachin at the KIO/A owned website called 'The Kachin Net (www.kachinnet.com)'.

The KIO/A Chairman's speech mainly praised the decade long ceasefire agreement between the KIO/A and the ruling junta. He said that the KIO/A has discussed with civilian mediators whenever they have contemplated taking a new political step.

The speech also mentioned that the KIO/A has submitted a 19-point charter demanding autonomy for Kachin State as well as a genuine federal union of Burma, to the ruling junta.

But, both the special Revolution Day speeches of KIO/A Chairman and Vice-president did not go into the future political options by the KIO/A in the post-national convention scenario—which the Kachins are interested in.

Last year, the KIO/A decided to change the current organization's name (KIO/KIA) in the future and at a suitable time at the key October KIO/A Central Committee meeting in Laiza controlled areas.

Today, the Kachin Revolution Day ceremony started with an hour-long military parade where over 1,000 soldiers participated. It ended with a special dinner hosted by KIO/A Chairman, Lanyaw Zaw Hra, KIO/A officials said.

The KIA was formed by a group of seven Kachin students of Rangoon University called "Seven Stars" in February 5, 1961 for secession. However, the policy was changed for a genuine Federal Union in Burma when Maran Brang Seng became the KIO/A chairman in 1975.