By KLN
Published on June 10, 2013
Kachin communities around the world mark the 2nd anniversary of renewed war in Kachin and northern Shan State by holding protests, ceremonies, and prayer vigils from June 7 to 9.
Kachin Baptist youths and IDP relief committee led a prayer service at Bethel Baptist Church in Myitkyina on June 9 at 2 pm. About 1500 people attended the ceremony and KBC’s general secretary Dr. Hkalam Samson delivered a message, said a Kachin youth in Myitkyina.
The Kachin Association Australia (KAA NSW) with Burma Campaign Australia (BCA) held a small protest outside of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade office in Sydney on June 7. Over 30 people attended the rally including members of KAA, Kachin community and Australian supporters, said an event organizer.
In the United Kingdom, the Kachin community and Burma Campaign UK held a protest outside the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on June 7. Lady Baroness Cox, a member of House of Lords joined the protest and delivered a letter to William Hague, UK Foreign Secretary, together with Goon Tawng of KNO-UK.
A group of Kachins living in Japan protested in front of United Nations office in Tokyo highlighting grave human rights abuses in Kachin and northern Shan State and demanding political rights for ethnic indigenous people on June 7.
Kachin communities in United States held special events, photo exhibitions and prayer services to mark the 2nd anniversary of renewed war in California, Virginia, Texas, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Indiana and Pennsylvania on June 8 and 9.
In Yangon, the former capital of Burma, about 800 people attended a ceremony marking the 2nd anniversary of renewed Kachin war on June 9 at 4 pm. Pyaw Tim Yak Tim Rau, a group of Kachin musicians dedicated to help Kachin war victims, participated in the event, said a Kachin youth in Yangon. A religious ceremony to mark the 2nd anniversary was held in Mandalay on June 9.
Kachin communities in Singapore, Denmark, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia held similar events to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of renewed Kachin war.
The horrible experiences of KIA lance corporal Chang Ying, who was brutally killed by Burmese army soldiers and an event that triggered renewed Kachin war after 17 years of ceasefire between Kachin Independence Organization and Burmese army on June 9, 2011 was again narrated in ceremonies marking the 2nd anniversary of renewed war.
The renewed war began on June 9 at Bumsan post in Sanggang located near Taping hydropower plant as Burmese army started its offensive war by using at least 10 infantry battalions breaking a ceasefire pact that lasted for 17 years.
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