Está en la página 1de 2

MPs letter blames Kachin troops for opening fire on a car

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 19:49 -

Twenty-three MPs have charged that the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) killed innocent persons when its soldiers opened fire on a car coming from the Tapein hydropower plant in Kachin State.

The letter, which also called on the KIO to commit to a cease-fire, said, The act in fact is a menace to the peace process. The letter appeared in the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Tuesday. On August 4, the Kachin State government security affairs minister and Colonel Than Aung of the Negotiating Team for Pease and Stability sent a similar letter protesting the deaths.

The newspaper reported that intentional small arms gunfire killed a sub-inspector and six civilians and wounded one police personnel. In response, the KIO said that its troops fired on the car after it refused to stop when ordered to in an operation theatre around the Tapein hydropower plant, where fighting has occurred since June 9, 2011. If they had stopped the car as ordered by our troops, there would have been no gunfire. If they continue travelling in this operation area, there will be more gunfire on them, KIO spokesman and central committee member La Nan told Mizzima. He said the car was carrying food and other supplies to the hydropower plant. The car was carrying supplies which may have included arms and ammunitions, he said. The hydropower plant has been closed for more than one month due to fighting in the area. Recently, about 10 Chinese engineers and workers returned to the plant from Momauk. An England-based columnist, Bo Bo Lan Sin, said the MPs open letter was an attempt to offset a recent open letter by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi urging peace in the area. This is meant to counter the Suus open letter. Daw Suu has supporters in other political parties and ethnic armed groups. So the government tried to show they had their own supporters among the MPs in Parliament. This is driving a wedge between ethnic people, Bo Bo Lan Sin said.

1/2

MPs letter blames Kachin troops for opening fire on a car


Wednesday, 10 August 2011 19:49 -

Aung San Suu Kyi sent an open letter to the KIO, Karen National Union (KNU), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Shan State Army (SSA) and President Thein Sein on July 28. The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), a coalition of 12 ethnic armed groups, issued a statement on August 5 in support of Suu Kyis open letter. The MPs who signed the open letter included members of the Chin National Party (CNP), All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP), Phaon Sawaw Democratic Party, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) and Rakhine Nationality Development Party (RNDP). The group issued a statement on August 3 urging the government to form a Peace Committee for internal peace in Burma. Even though there has been a lull in military offensives, on August 7 KIO troops ambushed a car used by the government Infantry Battalion 129 in Monyin District in Kachin State. Four government soldiers died, La Nan said. The Mizzima

2/2

También podría gustarte