29th December, 2012
The international community should put pressure on the government of Burma to engage in a "meaningful" political dialogue with the Kachin people in the north of their country and other ethnic nationalities within the nation’s borders, according to human rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
CSW also called for the Burmese government to end its offensive against the Kachin people – the majority of whom are Christians – amid reports the conflict has intensified in recent days with fighter jets and helicopter gunships used to attack Kachin Independence Army troops close to their headquarters at Laiza, on the China-Burma border.
The government’s offensive against the Kachin people was launched in June, 2011, following a 17 year ceasefire. More than 100,000 civilians have been internally displaced since and Burma’s army has been accused of human rights violations including rape, torture, looting, the desecration of churches and the killing of civilians.
Andrew Johnston, CSW’s advocacy director, describes the escalation of the conflict as "deeply disturbing" and says the use of jets and gunships represents the "most serious intensification in this conflict since the war began".
"The government of Burma must be urged to stop this offensive immediately, and engage in a genuine peace process…" he says. "President Thein Sein and his government present an image of reform to the world, but how can reform be serious if it is accompanied by fighter jets and helicopter gunships? Unless reform is accompanied by a genuine peace process, it will not lead to the lasting change Burma”s people desire and deserve."
Mr Johnston says the international community "must make it clear to Thein Sein that unless the Burma Army”s offensive stops and a peace process begins, international pressure will be applied".
– DAVID ADAMS
