Conflicts in minority regions continue – more than 65,000 Kachin on the run from violence

Despite the liberalization in Burma, there is no end to the fighting and the severe human rights violations in Kachin State in the northeast of the country. More than 65,000 members of the Kachin peoples group are on the run from violence. About 10,000 of them escaped to neighboring China. This was announced by the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) on Wednesday in Göttingen. "The continued fighting shows that it is still a long way to peace and to secure human rights in Burma," said the STP's Asia-consultant, Ulrich Delius. "While there is a certain euphoria in the major cities of Burma, life still largely consists of displacement and human rights violations for most of the smaller nationalities in the minority regions." 

After the Burmese government canceled the ceasefire agreement in Kachin State in June 2011 – after it had been in effect for 17 years – more than 65,000 Kachin were forced to leave their villages. Until October 2011, the number of refugees had already risen to 29,000. Since January 2012, 7000 more Kachin are on the run from violence and there are regular clashes between Burmese soldiers and the "Kachin Independence Army (KIA)." Inhabitants of the village Namlim Pa in the south of Kachin State fled from the confrontations between the army and the KIA just last Friday. There are also evictions due to controversial plans for the construction of an oil and gas pipeline that is supposed to ensure energy supplies for China.

While 55,000 IDP in Kachin found refuge in a few dozen small refugee camps in Kachin State and northern Shan State, about 10,000 Kachin sought refuge in the neighboring Chinese province of Yunnan. There they tolerated by the authorities – at least so far – but they are not recognized as regular refugees. Most of the asylum seekers are women.

The fighting in Kachin State continues, even though Burma's President Thein Sein had ordered to stop any military disputes on 10 December 2011. "This stirs up doubts about the assertiveness of the President over the still powerful army," said Delius.