Rangoon Activists Focus on Kachin Peace

Peace in war-torn Kachin State remains a hot issue amongst Rangoon campaigners—including activists, celebrities, politicians and businessmen in the heart of Burma—despite being located hundreds of miles away from the devastating conflict.

Stickers and T-shirts with the slogan “Let the Flowers Bloom but Not Bullets” were distributed in the former capital last week by young activist members of leading campaign group Generation Wave.

A fundraising performance called “Save the War Victims” was also held in Sanchaung Township in Rangoon last Sunday with dozens of singers, celebrities and activists participating

The event was organized by young people in support of war refugees who have fled their homes in Kachin State due to the fighting that first broke out between government troops and ethnic rebels last June.

The current conflict ended a ceasefire which was agreed in 1994 and has so far displaced around 40,000 civilians including many women and children, according to relief groups.

Artists from various backgrounds including cartoonists, poets, photographers and actors also participated in the charity campaign.

Meanwhile, Burmese users of the Facebook social networking website were also raising awareness of the need for peace in Kachin State by posting messages reading “Stop the War” on their profiles.

Leading companies including Htoo Trading Co. Ltd, May and Mark Gems, AIR KBZ and Sky Net also made donations to suffering Kachin civilians, according to a report in state-run newspaper The Mirror on Tuesday.

Last week, leaders of the 88 Generation Students group, including recently freed Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, also visited Kachin State and delivered speeches to local people that called for peace.

Mai Li Awng, a relief worker in Mai Ja Yang who provides assistance to Kachin refugees, said that displaced people still do not dare return home as there has been no tangible ceasefire agreement between the government army and rebel Kachin Independence Army.

“Some tried to return home but came back to the refugee camps. They said it is still unsafe to return and live in their villages,” said Mai Li Awng.

She called on the government to end the conflict as civilians have become the main victims of the war over the course of many months. “If the government does not solve ethnic conflicts, there will be no sustainable peace,” she said.

Concerns have been raised that there are not enough toilets for refugees in the camps and wells for drinking water have started drying up as the summer season approaches.

After witnessing the situation in Kachin State first-hand, a Rangoon-based editor told The Irrawaddy that most of refugees are children and women. “They said they want to return home and want the war to stop as soon as possible,” she said.

Burmese cartoonists in Rangoon have been sketching caricatures which are sold for only 3,000 kyat (US $ 3.8) in order to raise funds for Kachin refugees. Famous photographers also exhibited their pictures at a recent fundraising event with images of Kachin war refugee camps catching people's attention most of all.

“These photos are really interesting as they reflect the lives of refugees in the camps,” said one audience member. “My eyes were full of tears as they suffer such hardships. I made up my mind to help those refugees as much as I can.”

The Save the War Victims charity concert also featured performances by famous singers such as Naw Naw, G-Latt, Chit Thu Wai, Sai Aung Hti Kham, Aung La, Lin Nit, Cho Pyone and K-Jar Nu. There were also traditional ethnic dances, storytelling and singing.

All donations from the event will be delivered into the hands of Kachin refugees. Further fundraising activities will take place in the future as long as the conflict continues, campaigners told The Irrawaddy.

“We really appreciate this kind of awareness,” said Mai Li Awng. “And such events are needed more. We welcome this event and thank all those who are aware of our cause.

“We should keep in mind that Burma’s ethnic cause is an issue for all people of our nation. And we are happy for those who support us.”