Press Release Statement

KACHIN COMMUNITY, USA
January 19, 2006

To our Brethrens:

From here in Washington, D.C. United States, US Kachin community sends the deepest sympathy to all families related to the victims of January 2 nd, 2006 massacre. We share our sadness with Kachins from all corners of the globe for the loss of six innocent lives due to in despicable act committed by the junta.

La Bang, Maran, and Zahkung families, your love for our motherland is truly inspiring. Such kind of patriotism is rarest and selfless endeavors. Since the day your husband, father, brother, or son was enlisted, you have also begun the endless journey of trails and tribulations. Your remarkable lives have set example for all of us here in the US. In response to your loss, we are awakened to reconsider priorities in life. All in all, we are sincerely grateful for your benevolence.

Dearest brethrens, we have existed in the world for centuries. Never in our recorded or oral history had we live under more oppressive regime than the one existing today. We indeed have been immunized to the way of life engineered by our despotic oppressor. In essence, the death of these five Kachins is not a failure of any organizations (including the KIO). We, people as a whole, served disserve to our predecessors, successors, and the three families mentioned above.

For example, if we do not have rice to cook for dinner because the military junta has confiscated rice for a Battalion's ration, we would naturally refuse to question the authorities. Our voluntary response would be borrowing rice from our neighbors or steal from our friends. Therefore, finger-pointing is a thing of no value and repeatedly failed to address any issues. Confronting directly to party involved to achieve resolution is the recipe of success.

We indeed failed to provide response to the first killing of KIA servicemen back in 2001. However, we have taken a stance on the second atrocity. We Kachins in the US cannot continually commit ourselves to another injustice and claim to be a responsible citizen of our motherland. In thanks to KIO/KIA and KNO leaders for the event's background information, we have obtained access to dependable news sources.

On Sunday Jaunary 15th, 2006 Kachins living here in the United Stated displayed our desire in front of Military Attache's Office. There is a significant in choosing this office instead of the Embassy. Embassy of the Union of Burma is a Burmese government representative's office. Since there is no government in Burma, the structure holds no legitimacy. We are in protest against SPDC, not the government. To reserve our solidarity with all other Kachins around the world within the same period of time, provide a response time for distance travelers ie. Florida and Nebraska residents, and yet demonstrate under the rule of law, we held the event on the 15th of January, 2006.

Kachin community in USA demands are in alignment with all other demonstrators in Malaysia, UK, and India and our message is clear. We condemn killings of any Kachins, be it KIA soldier, farmer, businessman, or homemaker. Brutality carried upon any Kachin is and will be perceived as a threat to all Kachins. We demand full investigation of the matter as Kachin people and transgressor of the crime must be held accountable. Demotion, removal from current 68 th Battalion or even from SPDC army is not a solution. If such practice continues to prevail in our society by the SPDC, number of Kachins perceiving as Kachin's cause rather than the KIA's will increase astronomically.

Kachins residing in the US urge our KIA/KIO leaders and other ceased-fire groups to withdraw from National Convention immediately to return to their headquarters. Internal meeting in regards to the breach of cease-fire agreement should be discussed and a decision should be made reflecting responsible leadership. Furthermore, decision made by the executive council must follow up with a legitimate and reasonable answer. To receive continual support of the public, these groups should receive consensus of the people by holding town hall meetings.

Last but not least, we, Kachins in the US, insist United Nation Security Council to place Burmese issues as utmost priority. As a body commissioned to make a more peaceful world, political problem in Burmese must take precedence over other less stressing issues. Avoidance of confrontation due to baseless criticism will generate question of validity of the organization and will cause greater instability in South-East Asia region. Issue as this: Killing an innocent based on ethnicity and religious persuasion have potential to infuse anger among religious groups in Burma. A Buddhist officer burning bodies into ashes after murdering Christians while fully understanding the sensitivities of Christian's belief on proper burial can induce a clash between SPDC and Burmese Christians. Spill-over effect to neighboring Buddhist states cannot be overlooked. While the Burmese issue is fairly late to resolve yet controllable, we request UNSC to take effective action on Burma, today.

Above demands are the reasons which compelled us to hold rally demonstrating our desires. Every party mentioned above should act swiftly to prevent such barbarism from repeating in our history. Again, our prayers are with the families who loss their loved ones and may God bless our Kachinland.

Sincerely,

Kachin Community, USA