Invitation demonstration for Kachin

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On Nov 19, 2014, the Burma Army launched a surprise artillery attack on the Military Academy of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) near its Laiza headquarters, killing 23 officer cadets and injuring 20 cadets and trainers. The victims of this atrocious attack are from multiple ethnic groups.

The Burma Army, even in the midst of nationwide ceasefire talks, continues to engage in military maneuvers, encroaching upon KIO territory, taking control of frontline positions and fortifying them with heavy artillery. This includes shelling near IDP camps last week. These unprovoked and deliberate actions in blatant violation of the agreement reached between the government and the KIO on May 13, 2014 to de-escalate military tensions. The Kachin Alliance, a network of Kachin communities and organizations in the US, therefore, strongly condemns the heinous cowardly attack on Nov 19, 2014 and other violations of the agreement.

Along with the members of Kachin community in the US, we courteously invite you to join us at a demonstration in New York city to show your support and lend your voices for the voiceless victims of Burma Army’s heinous acts. In solidarity with the fallen 23 cadets and thousands of innocent citizens who are suffering unjustly in Burma, we will stand together as one and demand the United Nations and the Burmese government to:

1) immediately end crime against ethnic minorities in Burma

2) give Burma Army full responsibility for the Nov. 19 killings

3) take steps to prevent further violations of agreement which can derail the peace talks including an immediate stop to continuous attacks and withdrawal of Burma Army from the frontlines

4) ensure that the Burmese government keep to its reform promises and find solutions to the decades-old ethnic conflict through political negotiations rather than military means


Date: Saturday, December 6, 2014
Demonstration locations:

1) United Nations Headquarters (01:00 – 2:30pm)

2) Permanent Mission of the Union of Myanmar (3:00pm – 4:30pm)

We respectfully request all ethnic minorities, the wider Burmese society and our friends worldwide to stand in solidarity with us Kachins, as we struggle to reclaim the rights promised to us upon independence.



Please do not hesitate to contact us with any question regarding this invitation and the demonstration.



Sincerely,
Kachin Alliance
Community Contact:
Ja Mai (215) 359 -6679 & Naw Mai Maran (402) 990- 2553

Media Contact: Gum San NSang, Phone: 1-202-500-5076



Email: contact@kachinalliance.org