Open letter to US, UK and Canadian Officials

Friday, January 13, 2012 |

To responsible officials in the governments of The United States, Canada, and The United Kingdom:

Subject: The continuing war on the Kachins by the government of Burma

I write on behalf of all Kachins who are now citizens or residents in the United States of America and Canada and I want to address the recent changing dynamics of politics in Burma. Since the Burma army/tatmadaw is still the agent of change without parallel, I will focus only on this topic.

The agreement with the Karen National Union involving a cease-fire now enables the military power in the government to move its forces that have been deployed against the Karens to Kachin State. The forces from Shan States Army and Wa fronts have already been moved and deployed against the Kachins.

Taken together, the continuing war against the Kachins and the totally secretive way in which any promise of reform in the agreements with the Karen, Shan and Wa leaders has been handled cast serious doubt on the sincerity on the part of the government in the
aforementioned agreements.

Regardless, the massive movement of troops to confront the Kachins is a two-edged sword; the authorities have now put all its eggs into a single basket—the war against the Kachins.

If the governments of the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. were now to take the position that they might be willing to revisit the issue of economic sanctions if the Kachin war is fully and satisfactorily halted, perhaps it would make a great deal of strategic sense to actually promote democracy in Burma.

The Kachins have been stalwart over the years since 1962 in defense of the Panglong Agreement plans for a democratic governing system. Through thick and thin they have sacrificed to uphold that conviction. The recent formation of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) was due to their initiative. The Panglong qua UNFC plan was developed by this coalition of ethnic nationalities. This plan promises a far better system of democracy for Burma than the constitution of 2008; furthermore, it contains the seeds for nationwide peace and stability. Is this the reason why the military junta ideologues feel they must destroy the Kachin political opposition—to prevent this plan from being proposed and carried out?

We Kachins stood with the Allied Powers during World War II and made our sacrifices. We ask the same powers to do the one critical thing to change the course of political dynamics in Burma once again.

Please inform the Burma government that the governments of the U.S., Canada and the U.K. will not consider lifting the existing sanctions until it is confirmed that the Burma government has truly ceased military operations in, and their forces withdrawn from Kachin State.

The Kachin nation and those who desire justice and fairness in The United States, Canada and Britain and everywhere, will be grateful for your decision to take this pivotal step.

La Raw Maran, Ph.D.
Advisor and consultant to the Kachin Leaders

CHANGING WINDS IN KACHINLAND

Friday, April 30, 2010 |

Pondering the BGF issue's imminent death

J. M. “Martin” Edmunds

Special to OKA News


It's February 2010, near Laiza, Kachin State – “The Border Guard Force issue will die very soon, the way I see it. The Burman junta will change strategy then, and I hope you KIA fellows can roll with the punches and keep up the opposition” said a civilian Kachin elder who's frequently consulted because he's always been trusted. As he intones, two uniformed men and two other civilians plus myself, sit with him, and listen intently, noting each word. The two in uniform are the top leaders of the KIA. The other civilians are respected leaders in their communities. To this observer a number of things are highly unusual, and overall, this meeting reflects the nature of the Kachin opposition to the SPDC today in a number of ways. I would like to share some of these with you.


These gentlemen are pondering politics beyond the BGF detente between the SPDC generals and the KIO.


A second civilian leader next speaks. “All these months while the BGF issue is being discussed on the surface, the junta is really studying why the Kachin civilians and the KIO, I really mean the KIA, have such strong unity, they are trying to find a vulnerable point that they can attack. This is what we have to worry about more than anything. The BGF talk is just a ploy for now.”


Another chimes in, “Plus, how many deadlines can you give and keep a straight face? This BGF requirement started last year about this time.”


The first civilian leader adds “Our dilemma as I see it, will be that they will say let's keep the ceasefire agreement, and then attack our unity as a people. We must always understand that they fear the civilian population far more than the military. If their soldiers attacked our civilians, the international media will be all over them, that's why. Right now they are trying to think up strategies to destroy our unity within the ceasefire framework. They have always worked on the divide and rule premises.”


At this juncture the senior KIA man says “Look at page 14 of the document that was circulated to everyone. It says here that the junta fears civilian power the most, and for this reason, the junta will seek to control the Burmans first and foremost because they have the largest civilian population that does not want to accept the junta's plans for this country.”

The third civilian leader adds, “ We need to remember that under the ceasefire the junta army can still intimidate our civilian population, but the KIA cannot. We do not treat our fellow Kachins in the manner that the junta army treats the Burman civilians and all others. So Kachins will be at a tremendous disadvantage in the post-BGF game. It is clear that our KIA must pursue a very proactive and energetic relationship with our own people. We must constantly reassure and reaffirm our unity.”


The second KIA officer now says, “This will be the right thing to do, going to the people. We are supposed to be opposing a military regime for the purpose of rebuilding a democratic system. We must go to our people because that's the right way.”

Everyone nods in agreement.


It is clear that these Kachins are already looking beyond the BGF detente, late in February, 2010; it is also clear that looking beyond together are civilian leaders (4) and KIA men (2), neither of whom is among the usually familiar KIO leaders.


Now, late April --Advance now to the end of April, and the course of BGF has indeed ended, by decision of the junta, that it is hopeless. The barrier presented by the KIO has been that Kachin people do not want to accept it. What the Kachin people want is in the Panglong Agreement, 1947, and Constitution which founded the Union of Burma in 1948.


The imperial SPDC's new clothes

The big news today sees junta generals resigning from the military to form political organizations. In Kachin State the junta generals have invited those members of the KIO senior leadership who have been soft on the BGF debate; they are being invited to form a political party with them. In lower Burma some twenty generals have similarly resigned to enter political participation as civilians!


What is not changing

All the generals who are resigning to enter politics hold positions related to civil administration; they do not command troops. The commanding generals of the directional commands (or taing:hmu rank) are not taking this step.


It is clear, as the Kachin leaders already realized, that this is driven by the fear of civilian polity, and it is intended to dilute Kachin and other ethnic groups' political feelings and dissuade us all from a potential eruption, as in 1988 and 1990. In Kachin State it is so clear that their new target at the moment is the political unity of Kachins. Remember, that the junta is well practiced in the strategy of divide and rule...


J. Martin Edmunds is a contributor to OKA News, the official eNews of Overseas Kachin Association

Nsam "mut" ai ni rai kun?

Sunday, April 25, 2010 |

Ya yang na Wunpawng wuhpung wuhpawng a masa hpe Primo Levi a "The Grey Zone theory" hte jahtuk yu ai lam

Maran Kaw

Ning pawt
Anhte yawng chye ai hte maren, No. 2 mungkan majan hta, Jew masha wan 6 jan hpe Nazi ni roi rip sat kau ai. Lam amyu myu hku na zingri sat ai. Dai hta, n kaja ai maga hku mying kaba ai langai gaw, "gas chamber" ngu ai "Dinghta Ngarai Gawk" ni rai nga ai. Chyinghka chyip chyip di la da ai gawk kaba kata kaw, si chye ai baw "ngarai nsa" (gas) dat bang dat nna, masha law law hpe loi loi hte lawan ai hku sat ai lam rai nga ai.Mare buga hkan na, Jew rai marai yawng hpe rim la nna, "concentration camp" ngu ai, lusha/tsi mawan n grung ai, bungli hpe laja lana masha hte n bung hkra shangun ai "roi rip bungli dabang" de sa dat ai. Dai "roi rip bungli dabang" hta, jan pru jan shang bungli galaw ra ai. Lu sha kadai mung n grung ai. Grai gawng kya mat ai ni hpe "Dinghta Ngarai Gawk" de gawt bang nna, sat kau ai. Dai "roi rip bungli dabang" ni hta shang wa ai chying hka sha nga nna, pru wa ai chying hka n nga ai. Dai de sa hkrum ai Jew bawng masha ni yawng gaw jahtum e si hkrum na matu re. Ndai gaw anhte yawng chye chyalu rai nga ai, Nazi roi rip bungli dabang a lam n tsa lam rai nga ai.

Bai nna, "roi rip bungli dabang" na Jew bawng masha ni a masa gaw chyip chyap rai, prat a matu hpa myit mada shara nnga ai. Shanhte a asak gaw dai kaw sin ai Nazi hpyen la ni a lata e rai nga ai. Dai masa ni hpe n kam hkam ai majaw, Nazi hpyenla ni hpe gum lang na gaw grau n mai byin ai. Malu masha shakyet da ai hkrum ai majaw lam hkawm ai pyi kading kadang she rai, gara kaw na gumlang na atsam lu na ta? Chyip chyap re ai masa hta hkam mana sha na lam sha nga mat sai. Gai.....dai hku nga yang, ndai masa ni gaw, ya dai ni na anhte Wunpawng sha ni hkrum sha taw nga ai n gun grai ja ai ni a du kyit manat hkrum ai masa ni hte wa jahtuk yu mai na kun? Dai n gun grai ja ai ni, shakyet da sai majaw, anhte Wunpawng sha ni gaw, agru agra rai, hpyi hte n ra sha kap mat sai masha hte bung mat wa sai. Mung masa, amyu masa, htung hking masa ni yawng hta, nsa sa she yak hkra dip manat hkrum sha nga ai. Jew ni mung, dai 'roi rip bungli dabang' nga ai, lamu ga jarit kata kaw nga nga ding sa, Nazi hpyen la ni a lata na lawt lam nnga ai.

Dabang jarit kata na nsam "mut" ai hpung
Dai 'roi rip bungli dabang' kata kaw na masa ni hta anhte nau n chye ai baw lam ni grai law hkra byin lai mat wa sai. "Dinghta Ngarai Gawk" kata hta, si chye ai baw "ngarai nsa" (gas) ni hpe kaja ja ta tut dat bang ai ni gaw, Nazi hpyen la ni nrai, "Jew" masha ni nan re ngu tsun yang mau ma na kun? Lu sha hpe mala la kahti gari sha jaw sha ai kaw, yang yi tawng daw chyen mi sha shajan lu sha sha ngu nna, Nazi hpyen la ni a ningtum ma tai mat ai bawng masha (Jew) ni grai law nga ai ngu yang mau na kun? Kaja ja nga yang, Nazi "roi rip bungli dabang" kata kaw na, shinggyim masha ni a matut mahkai ai lam gaw "roi rip ai wa" (perpertrator) hte "roi rip hkrum ai wa" (victim) ngu ai hpan lahkawng sha nrai nga ai. "Roi rip ai wa" gaw n kaja ai majaw n sam a chyang hte anhte masat yang, "roi rip hkrum ai ni" yawng hpe gaw kaja ai ngu nna nsam "a hpraw" hte masat na kun?

Primo Levi ngu ai Jew laika ka sara wa gaw, Nazi "roi rip bungli dabang" kata kaw, bawng dung lai wa nna, majan kaba ngut ai ten hta gam kaja let bai lawt wa ai wa rai nga ai. Shi gaw "roi rip dabang" kata na nsam "mut" ai hpung ni a lam sak se hkam nga ai. Nazi ni hte pawng nna, dai nsam "mut" ai hpung hta shang lawm sai ni gaw, Nazi ni tsun ai yawng galaw ra sai. Madu amyu hpe sat ai gas nsa mung dat bang ra sai. Bungli n galaw ai makara ni hpe mung kayet ra sai. Ndai "roi rip bungli dabang' hpe anhte a dai ni na Wunpawng wuhpung wuhpawng hte shabung na nga yang, anhte a wu hpawng kata kaw dai zawn n sam "mut" ai hpung ni nga ai i? Amyu sha ni ra sharawng ai lam hpe "ahpraw" ngu nna, hpyen asuya hpe gaw "achyang" ngu sawn yu ga. Mahtai gaw anhte yawng chye chyalu re. Lai wa sai shata ni hta, n gun kaba ai ni a pressure hpe n lu hkam mat nna, jarit sin hpyen dap (Border Guard Force) hpe hkap la kau sai NDA(K) hpung hte, Lasang Awng Wa hpung ni gaw ndai nsam "mut" ai prat hpe a san sha hkam la kau sai. Rai yang, anhte ndai nsam "mut" ai zone de hkrat shang mat ai ni a masa hpe loi bai hka ja yu ga.

Nsam "mut" ai ni
Nsam "mut" ai gaw mut ai sha re. Galoi mung achyang tai mat na gaw nrai nga ai. Dai hte maren, ahpraw mung nrai sai. Shanhte gaw "priviledge" ngu ai yu maya masha ni nlu mai ai ahkaw ahkang ni lu mat wa na re. (Yangyi chyen mi sha pyi shajan lu sha sha, dai gaw ahkaw ahkang rai sai.) Shanhte hku na, ntsa de na, n gun kaba ai ni jaw ai arawng aya (power) kaji kajaw mung mai lu nga ai. Levi tsun ai "roi rip dabang kata" hta sin ai Nazi hpyenla ni a ningtum ma tai ai Jew masha ni gaw shahte lu tawn ai power kaji sha rai tim, dai hpe grai kabu gara hte jai lang ai. "Auschwitz roi rip bungli dabang" kaw ndai zawn re, n sam "mut" ai hpung ni hpe "The Special squards" ni ngu nna, hpung hpaw da ya ai. Dai "The Special Squards" kaw shang lawm ai Jew (malawng) bawng masha 700-1000 lapran ayan nga ai (Auschwitz kaw bawng dung ai masha chyarang a 90-95% gaw Jew re). Shanhte galaw ra ai bungli gaw, "dinghta ngarai gawk" hta "ngarai nsa" (gas) dat bang ai. Amu ngut ai hpang, mang ni hta ai, mang kaw kap ai ja wa ni lahkawn ai. Dai gawk de rai n shang shi yang, sumpum da ai bawng masha ni a arung arai ni kaw nna, kaja ai ngam ai ni Nazi ni a matu mahkawng ya ai. Nazi hpyen la ni shangun ai hpa mung galaw ra ai. "Special squard" kaw shang lawm ai ni law malawng gaw, manang ni a ntsa e ka up lu ai ahkaw ahkawng (power) hpe ra ai ni, shawng de dip da hkrum ai (sh), shinggyim wuhpawng hta shara nlu, myiman nlu ai hku na nga lai wa sai masha ni rai nga ai hpe Levi tsun da nga ai. Dai majaw ndai nsam "mut" ai kata de shang mat ai ni gaw, n gun kaba ai ni a pressure hpe n lu hkam ai majaw sha nrai, "previledge" ngu ai, manang wa hta jan ai ahkaw ahkang hpe lu mayu ai ni, shawng de wuhpung wuhpawng a shara jaw ai n hkrum lai wa ai ni mung mai byin nga lu ai. Anhte Wunpawng wuhpung wuhpawng kaw mung ya BGF hpe hkap la kau sai hpung ni sha nrai, pressure a majaw mi rai rai, ahkaw ahkang shajan ra marin ai majaw mi rai rai, hpyen wa hte pawng mat ai masha ding hkrai ni mung shawng de grai nga lai wa sai. Ya mung naw nga nga ding yang re.

Kade mara ta?
Dai hku nga yang anhte gaw dai "Special Squards" ni hpe, arawng aya ra marin ai ni, tinang amyu hpe tinang nyet kau ai ni ngu nna, mara shagun na kun? Tinang nan shanhte a shara kaw n shang yu ai, shanhte hkrum sha nga ai pressure ni hpe n hkrum kadup yu ai sha shanhte a akyang lai len (moral) hpe, je yang (judge) na matu Levi myit n hkrum nga ai. Teng sha nga yang, n dai hku manghkang ni shabyin ai yawng a ningpawt rai nga ai, "Gumshem uphkang ai hkrang" (structure of the toralitarian state) gaw ndai lam hte seng nna, lit nga dik re ai lam Levi tsun da nga ai. "Daru magam (power)" mung shawa kaw nnga ai sha, marai 1-2 a lata kaw sha manat tawn da ai rai yang, "jan ai ahkaw ahkang (privilege)" gaw paw pru wa chyalu rai nna, dai hpe hkan shachyut ai masha hpan mung nga chyalu re ai lam tsun da nga ai. Ndai gaw "Roi rip bungli dabang" kaw sha n rai, gara wuhpung wuhpawng kaw mung mai nga nga ai. "utopia" ngu ai kaja ta tut nnga ai "shingran wuhpung wuhpawng" hkan sha nnga ai lam Levi tsun da ai.

"mut" ai ni a prat mung n loi la nga ai
Langai mi anhte matsing ra ai gaw, "mut" ai zone de shang mat nna, manang wa hta jan ai ahkaw ahkang loi li lu jai lang tim, "mut" ai ni a prat gaw tsep kawp pyaw lu ai nrai nga ai. Mi tsun ai hte maren "Roi rip dabang" kata hta shang wa ai chying hka sha nga nna, pru wa ai chying hka nnga ai. "The Special Squards" ni mung si ra na sha re. Grau nna sawng ai gaw, dai Nazi "roi rip bungli dabang" ni hpe "Gumhpawm hpyen hpung (the allied forces)" ni shang zing ai. "Gumhpawm hpyen hpung" ni No 2 mungkan majan dang nna, Nazi ni majan sum ai. Nazi, hpyen bu/hpyenla law law "mung kan mung hpawm tara rung" (internation court) hta je yang hkrum sai. Dai ten hta, nsi nna ngam nga ai "The Special Squards" hta shang lawm ai hpung ni mung n lawt nga lu ai. Ndai hpe NDA(K), KDA, Lasang Awng Wa hpung ni chye na hkam la ra nga ai.


"mut" ai madang kaga grai naw nga ai.
Rai ti mung, dai hku je yang hkrum ai hta, jahtum e, mara nnga lawt mat ai "Special Squards" malawm n kau mi mung nga nga ma ai. Dai ni gaw kaning re ai ni rai ta? "Roi rip bungli dabang" kata "Special squard" hpung kaw shang lawm nna, Nazi ni a rung mazing ning tum ma (clerk) amu sha ang hkrum ai ni n kau gaw, dai "roi rip dabang" kata hta, shim da ai information ni hpe chye lu na ahkang lu ma ai. Dai hpe amyat htuk nna, tinang a manaw manang (yu maya masha) ni hpe garum ai lam ni galaw ai. Tsun ga nga yang, tinang lu tawn da ai ahkaw ahkang hpe kaja ai hku jai lang ai ni rai nga ma ai. Shanhte gaw, nsam "mut" ai "Special Squard" rai tim, shanhte a "mut" ai shadang gaw ahkaw ahkang hpe jum tek mayu nna, tinang a manaw manang, amyu sha ni hpe roi rip ai ni hte ninghtan shai nga ai. Ndai masa hpe anhte a Wunpawng wuhpung wuhpawng hte bai jahtuk dat yu ga.

KIO a masa
Sawn yu ga nga yang, anhte Wunpawng mung masa hpung ni gaw hpyen asuya hte cease-fire agreement galaw ai 1993/94 hkan kaw n na "chyamut" ni byin mat ai ngu mai tsun nga ai. Ga shadawn, KIO ni myen hpyen du ni hte arau lu sha sha ai, Golf arau kayet ai. Rai tim, maga mi de gaw hpyen n gun shajat ai, ramma ni hpe hpyen hpaji sharin ya ai, mung masa pang dung a ru di, Pang lung ga sadi hpe ja ja manat da ai. Ndai lam ni gaw n gun kaba ai hpyen asuya wa nra ai baw "hpraw" ai shamu shamawt lam ni rai nga ai. Dai hta n ga, Jinghpaw mung daw (Kachin State) a mung masa du hkra ladaw gaw KIO hte hpyen asuya a matut mahkai lam kaw grai shamyet shanat nga ai. Sawn yu ga nga yang, KIO gaw 1994 kaw nna,2008 du hkra Jinghpaw mungdaw a mungmasa joi jang hpe lapran kaw zim hkra shara ya ai lam ni nga wa sai. Dai lam gaw, ndai hku rai nga ai.

Mung shawa gaw, "ahpraw" rai nna, shanhte a ra sharawng ai lam yawng gaw hpyen asuya (nsam "a chyang") hte n htan shai ai hkrai rai nga ai. KIO hku nna hpyen asuya hte tsep kawp nhtan shai ai hte, mung shawa hte bung ai "a hpraw" nsam galai na hpe mung shawa grai ra ai (KNU a lai). Bawm Wang La Raw a KNO ni mung ndai masa hkan nga ai. Rai tim, shanhte gaw "Gumshem daru magam" a jarit shinggan de nga ai ni re ai majaw, pressure nnga ai. Wang lu wang lang hpraw mayu ai ram mai hpraw nga lu ai. KIO gaw "Gumshem daru magam" a jarit kata kaw nga ai majaw mung shawa ra ai n sam "a hpraw" hpe dagraw na nga yang, myen hpyen asuya hte di di myi man hkrum, hkrum katut ra sai. Myen hpyen asuya gaw n gun grai kaba ai majaw, hpa mung shabyin lu ai. Shanhte a lailen langai mi gaw, shanhte hte kanawn mazum taw nga ai ni, shanhte ra ai hku nrai wa yang, mung shawa hpe dingbai dingna jaw ai. Ga shadawn, Jinghpaw mungdaw a gunrai chyai ai lam hta, Miwa mung hte hpaga yumga galaw ai, Laiza-Myitkyina maw daw lam gaw grai ahkyak ai. Myen hpyen ni a loi sha galaw lu ai lam gaw dai mawdaw lam hta gunrai htaw sa lam shayak kau na lam sha rai nga ai. Dai mawdaw lam hpe machyu nna, kan bau ai ni, dai lam hku htaw shalai ai kun rai hta machyu nga ai shawa daw tsa ni a nga pra lam ni yak hkak wa na lam ni hpe tau ai majaw KIO gaw nmai "hpraw" nga ai lam ni nga nga sai. (Ndai maw daw lam ai ahkyak ai lam gaw Nargis byin ai shaloi dang dawng lai wa sai. Jinghpaw mung de "jum" ndu mat ai majaw Laiza lam hku shang ai "Miwa jum" hpe mung shawa ni madi shadaw ra mat ai).
Ndai gaw 1994 - 2008 ning lapran na KIO a mungmasa hkrun lam hpe ding lik yu ai lam rai nga ai. Dai hpang na BGF hpe ninghkap ai lam gaw mungshawa ra sharawng lam "a hpraw" de shang bang wa sai. Dai majaw, ya byin wa na lam gaw, mung shawa hte wora hkran-ndai hkran rai nga ai, n gun ja ai myen hpyen asuya hte di di myi man hkrum na de yawng wa sai.

Hpung Dim
KIO sha n ga, "Gumshem uphkang ladat" a n pu kaw shani shagu sak hkrung ra ai mung shawa hte kanawn mazum mayu ai ni yawng gaw, "mut" ai n sam hpe dagraw ra ai sha rai nga ai. Ga shadawn, NGO ni rai nga ai "Metta Foundation", "Shalom Foundation" zawn re ai wuhpung ni mung bungli galaw ai masa hta, mung shawa a myi man tau ai majaw, kade n kam tim sharang nna, myen hpyen asuya ra ai hku galaw dan ra ai. "Mut" ai nsam hpe dagraw ra ai ten ni law law nga lai wa sai. Kaga, dai zawn re masa hku hkan "mut" ra ai mare salang ni, ningbaw ningla ni anhte buga kaw grai naw nga nga ai.

Gin chyum dat ga nga yang, "Gumshem uphkang ladat" a n pu kaw nsa sa chyat let nga nga ai anhte wuhpung wuhpawng a masa gaw, "A hpraw" hte "a chyang" ngu ai, kaja ai hte n kaja ai masa (concept) sha nga nga ai nrai.. "Gumshem uphkang ladat" a majaw paw pru wa ai "mut" ai n sam dagraw ai, dagraw ra mat ai sak hkrung ladat hpe anhte jai lang ra mat ai. "Gumshem uphkang masa" a daru magam (power) shinggrup ai jarit kata kaw nga nga ding sa, dai hpe gum lang na n mai byin dingsa gaw, dai zawn re ai "mut" ai n sam dagraw ra ai lam nga nga dingsa rai na re. Dai hpe mung anhte bawnu zen zen hte chye na hkap la ra na re ngu nna tang madun dat nngai.

Maran Kaw


Mahta ai laika ngau;

Levi, Primo. "The Grey Zone," in Violence in War and Peace, Blackwell readers in Anthropology, edited by Nancy Scheper-Hughes and Philippe Bourgois, 83-90, Blackwell Publishing, 2004.

End Burma’s System of Impunity

Monday, October 12, 2009 |

By PAULO SERGIO PINHEIRO
Published: May 27, 2009

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL — The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has spent 13 years under house arrest in Myanmar. This week, the Burmese junta is likely to extend her detention for up to five years under the trumped-up charge of allowing a visitor into her compound.

During eight years as United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, I repeatedly called on the Burmese junta to release Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s 2,100 other political prisoners, to no avail. It is imperative that she be released immediately for the country’s process of reconciliation to move forward.

But while Suu Kyi has deservedly received a great deal of international attention over the past two decades, Myanmar’s ethnic minorities — more than one-third of the population — have suffered without international outcry. For Myanmar’s process of national reconciliation to be successful, the plight of the minorities must also be addressed.

Over the past 15 years, the Burmese Army has destroyed over 3,300 villages in a systematic and widespread campaign to subjugate ethnic groups. U.N. reports indicate that Burmese soldiers have frequently recruited child soldiers, used civilians as minesweepers and forced thousands of villagers into slave labor.

An official policy of impunity has empowered soldiers to rape and pillage. According to one account, in December 2008 a Burmese soldier marched into an ethnic Karen village in eastern Myanmar and abducted, raped and killed a 7-year old girl. Authorities refused to arrest the soldier; instead, officers threatened the parents with punishment if they did not accept a cash bribe to keep quiet.

In 2002, I received a report about 625 women who were systematically raped in Myanmar ’s Shan State over a five-year period. There was not a single account of successful prosecution.

I repeatedly documented the military’s many abuses in reports to the U.N. General Assembly and the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. My work is only one example of U.N. efforts in Myanmar — since 1990, U.N. representatives have visited the country 37 times in an attempt to facilitate dialogue and promote human rights.

They have exhausted all domestic and diplomatic remedies without achieving human rights protection and national reconciliation in Myanmar. And while the U.N. General Assembly and the U.N. Human Rights Council have passed over 35 resolutions regarding Myanmar, the U.N. Security Council has yet to pass a single one. The United Nations will not be successful until the Security Council acts to directly address our stagnant efforts.

It is clear that the attacks in Myanmar will continue. It is equally evident that the country’s domestic legal system will not punish those perpetrating crimes against ethnic minorities.

It is time for the United Nations to take the next logical step: The Security Council must establish a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and impunity in Myanmar. The Security Council took similar steps with regard to Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. The situation in Myanmar is equally as critical.

Creating a commission of inquiry will accomplish three important goals:
First, it will make the junta accountable for its crimes with a potential indictment by the International Criminal Court. Second, it will address the widespread culture of impunity in Burma. Third, it has the potential to deter future crimes against humanity in Myanmar.

For two decades, ethnic minorities in Myanmar have suffered while our diplomatic efforts failed to bear fruit. The time has come for the Security Council to act.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar from 2000 to 2008.

BUGA SHIGA : Yuli byin ai lam

Friday, October 9, 2009 |

2009 ning na mam mangai ladaw hta gaw, Jinghpaw Mung, Chihpwi Ginwang, Sumpra Bum Ginwang hte Nogmung Ginwang ni hkan e laja lana yuli hku byin ai lam na chye lu ai. Dai ginwang kata na mare kahtawng ni a yi hkan e mam ni hpe yu hte latung kanu ni gaw, laja lana mam jahten kau ai lam na chye lu ai. Ya chye lu ai hta, Mare kahtawng yawng (67) re ai lam, dai hta jan nna byin nga ai re lam hpe buga masha ni kawn chye lu ai.

America a Democracy hpe mu chyim hkrup dat ai lam (Daw I)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 |

Democracy lam tsun yang, USA gaw mungkan mung masa pinra kaw kasi yu la mai ai mungdan langai hku nna, nga taw sai rai nga ai. Tsaban 19 ning hta Alexis de Tocqueville ngu ai french amyu myit sawn ning hkring langai wa ka da ai “Democracy In America” ngu ai laika buk gaw US a democracy hpe maigan la rai nga ai shi sa mu ai ning mu ni hpe ka da ai. US mung dan sha ni hta mu lu ai wuhpung masa rap ra lam, tara masa rap ra lam, mung shawa ni a democracy ntsa kam hpa ai lam ni hpe sung sung nai nai sang lang da ai. Nhti ga ai ni naw hti yu ga ngu ga saw mayu ai. Democracy a nam chyim hpe grai sang lang ai hku mu mada lu na re. Ngai lu hti ai laika buk gaw Yangon, American center kaw na shapraw ai myen hku gale tawn ai laika buk re.
Mungkan masha ni US de sa mayu ai hkrai rai nga ai. Hpa majaw mungkan masha ni US de grai sa mayu ai i? ngu ai ga san hpe , Ngai US de du ai hpang, asan sha chye na wa ai hku re. Tocqueville a laika buk hpe mung bai myit dum lu ai hku re. Shinggyim rap ra tara nga ai. Wang lu wang lang madu a ningmu hpe hpaw tsun dan lu ai. Tara Upadi a up hkang ai lam nga ai (The rule of law). Kadai shyinggyim masha mung ndai zawn re ai ningpawt ninghpang ahkaw ahkang hpe ra sharawng ai sha rai nga ai.
Alexis de Tocqueville gaw French kaw na arawng aya nga ai masha langai mi rai nga ai. Shi US de sa gan chyai ai shaloi shi mu lu ai mungkan ningnan (America mung) a lak lai ai lam ni hpe grai mau ai hte,shi a mungdan France hpe mung dai zawn, shinggyim wuhpung rap ra tara nga ai mungdan byin shangun mayu ai yaw shada let ndai laika buk hpe ka ai rai nga ai. Ngai mung ta tut sa mu la sai re majaw, anhte mungdan masha ni hpa majaw Democracy lu na matu, du baw sai hkaw sum hkam let shakut nga ai lam hpe grau myit sawn sumru byin wa ai.
Anhte myen mung gaw shang lawt lu ai 1948 kaw nna, Ne Win wa daru magam zing ai 1960 ram du hkra gaw Democracy a nam chyim hpe loi mi gaw lu chyim kau ga sai. Anhte a ban prat hta mung 1990 election hta, Democracy sama loi li bai na wa yang, sama sha lu nna, nlu sha kau dat ai lu sha poi zawn bai hkoi mat sai hku re. Dai kaw nna, ya 2010 hta Election bai nga na nga ai hpe gaw gara hku bai hkam sha ma ai kun. Democracy hpe madu ra ai hku jum tek da ai mung masa hkrang hpe Mungkan mungdan nkau mi jai lang nga ai. “Democracy” ngu sha tsun na, shi a nam nak hpe atsawm n hka ja yang gaw, democracy ngu mying gang nna, galaw sha kau ai ni a lata de anhte du mat na re. Democracy a madung nam nak langai mi gaw, shinggyim masha shada rap ra tara hpe grai madung da ai. Dai hta, manang wa a shara hpe mung masat masa galaw ya ra ai daw ni nga ai hku re. 2008 US Election kaw anhte mu sai hte maren Obama wa dang mat ai the kalang ta, sum mat ai wa McCain gaw shi sum ai lam ndau nna, Obama hpe hkap la ai lam, shi hpe me jaw ai ni hpe mung Obama hpe shanhte yawng a gumsan magam langai hku nna hkap la na lam tsun mat wa ai. US democracy a awng dang ai lam sak se langai mi rai nga ai.
Lai wa sai bat hta anhte a dorm kaw ra lata poi langai mi galaw ai. Ngai gaw US ga, jawng lung sa ai kaw, jawng wang kata na dorm kaw wa nga ang ai. Makau grup yin gawk ni yawng American jawng ma ni hkrai re. Anhte a dorm gaw Wing A,B,C,D nga ai. Ngai nga ang ai gaw Wing B na 3rd Floor kaw rai nga ai. Ndai ra lata poi gaw anhte Wing B, 3rd Floor (B3) a Floor council lata poi rai nga ai.

Regional implications of US policy on Burma (Kachin translation)
Kavi Chongkittavorn, The Nation, Thailand, 5 October 2009

(Ga-numhtet: The Nation, Thailand, English shi laika hta pru ai commentary re. Commentary ka ai sat lawat gaw laksan shai ai, mabyin langai ngai a lam hpe ka yang lachyum hpe shading ai, kadai ra rawng nna byin ai ngu ai hku n yu ai. Ndai US Policy ningnan lam hta “Myen SPDC hte mazum nga sai ni hpe US policy hkra nga ai” ngu ai daram sha tsun ai; India hte Miwa hpe hkra ai hte ASEAN hte Australia hpe hkra ai lam ni gaw kaga ga rai nna grai shai nga ai lam hpe n sagawn madun dan ai. Dai majaw akyu pru hkra nga jang ga-yan lapran hkan rawng nga ai daw hpe ahpre shaw la ra nga ai. Dai majaw ndai ga gale hpe htawn shana na matu dasang lajang ai re. Lachyum ginsi ngu na ni hpe nambat shakap nna madun tawn ai. KAF/USA, 7 Ocober 2009)

1. Myen mung hte seng ai US policy hpe grai sadi nna ka tawn nga ai; dai ni Myen mung a manghkang kaba hta lam langai ngai a majaw shang lawm nga ai mungdan ni yawng hpe hkra nan hkra shading tawn nga ai. US policy a majaw US gaw Myen mung mabyin lam hta shang wa sai, dai a majaw ndai aten nna lam magup hta shai wa ai lam byin ra sai. Myen hpyen atsuya gaw, kaga mungdan ni hte ndai lang tengsha jahkrup shaga mayu ai, gajam kalam ginsup ai lam n rai sai, ngu ai lailen sakse hpe shadan madun dan ra hkra, SPDC hpe hkra na matu US policy shading tawn nga ai.

2. US lang ai ladat hta lawan tin shai wa ra ai ngu ai hku n re; Myen a lailen hte mung kata na mabyin hpe US gaw azin ayang sagawn nna shen mayu nna re, ndai hpe ra ai aten la nna galaw na re.Dai aten hta SPDC maga de nna jet ai, dingman ai shawang amyit hte shang lawm jahkrup shaga nga ai, ngu ai lailen sakse madun ra na re. US gaw SPDC hte jahkrup ai lam gaw jaw ai lam re, ngu myit dawdan lu hkra sakse madun na lit gaw SPDC a lit re.

Tim, ya byin nga ai manghkang gaw grai na hkra byin nga sai, kadai ni a matu mung n kaja ai manghkang re. Ndai lang yaw shada ai lam byin wa na rai yang US hta n-ga kaga mungdan ni mung shang lawm nna shawng de shamu shamawt lu hkra htu ganawng lawm ra na re. Obama atsuya gaw ndai zawn lawt lu na lam n mu mat wa sai manghkang hpe magra jum nna lama ma shabyin dat na hku rai nga ai majaw, kaga mungdan ni mung tinang a Myen hte seng ai ladat hpe gram sharai na lam pru wa sai.

Lachyum: Miwa hte India gaw, Myen mung democracy byin wa lu na ningpawt sharawt lam hta n shaga ai, hpaga lam hku sha sa lai wa sai. Ndai ladat matut hkan na nga yang US policy hta nhtan shai mat wa sana re. Miwa hte India a matu SPDC hpaga lam gaw manghkang byin wa na re. ASEAN hpung hte Australia gaw, democracy lam hta shadut yu sai re majaw, ndai ni a masa hpe US policy grau n-gun ja wa shangun sana re. Ya aten hta kata lam hta shang lawm ai lam hpe ta-tut n galaw ai sha, shinggan nna marawn shaga ai ni, European Union zawn, ya aten nna gaw tatut shang lawm na hpe US policy myit mada nga sai. Dai n rai yang kaga lam hta shanhte US hte mazum ai lam hta hkra wa na rai nga ai.

3. US yaw shada ai lam hta lawan byin na daw hte aten la nna gawgap na daw, ngu daw lahkawng garan tawn nga ai. Shawng e shabyin na daw hta ya aten e jahkrup shaga ai lam, General Than Shwe hte Aung San Suu Kyi ni lawm nga na lam, Myen hpyen atsuya hpe shawa shang lawm lu na chyinghka hpaw tawn ya na lam hta aja awa shadut na lam ni re. US gaw ya aten hta Myen mung hte seng nna jahkrat tawn ai sanction policy ni yawng hpe ningpawt nna bai sawn aru mayu ai, dai makan ngut lu hkra aten la mayu ai. Jahkrat tawn ai sanction ni a lam hpe mung sharawt nna myit yu na re. Naw myit yu nga ai aten hta sanction lam gaw maren grin nga na re. Ra ai lam byin pru yang jat pyi jat bang na re. Ndai hpe SPDC tup hkrak chye na ra nga ai.

4. US gaw 2010 hta galaw na ra-lata a matu shingdang ai dingbai dingna ni n nga ai, mung shawa yawng mayawng shang lawm lu ai ra lata byin hkra, galaw ra mara yawng hpe lajang ai hta shang garum na lam re. Ndai tsang de du lu na matu Myen maga de nna US a matu myit mada shara nga na re, ngu ai sakse madun dan ra ai. Aung San Suu Kyi hpe rim shingdang ai lam hta na lawt shangun ai gaw dai baw sakse langai rai na re. Shada da kam hkat lu ai de du lu hkra jawm galaw ai makan lit lam ni gaw, ga shadawn, nang-hpam ai baw shapraw ai, dut sha ai lam hpe ru-gawt tsan kau na lam; shawa hkamja lam hte lamu ga ginra (environment) hkam ja lam, majan kaba #2 hta hkrat sum ai ni a angaw angam tam mahkawng na lam ni lawm nga ai.
5. 1991 e hpang nna Myen mung manghkang lam gaw ASEAN a lit re, ngu wa ai ladat byin wa ai majaw, ASEAN hte US, European Community ni hte lam shai mat wa sai; ASEAN gaw sanction lang ai hpe n ra ai, mung shawa sha machyi hkam ai, nga ai. Dai ni US policy hta sanction lam hpe jep sagawn yu ga, ASEAN hte myit hkrum na mai ai; tim, democracy ningpawt gawgap lam hta ASEAN tsun shaga na n-gun grai kya lai wa sai. Dai ni US policy gaw democracy sharawt lam hta n-gun kaba jat bang na lam re. Ndai lam hta aja wa shadut na lit gaw dai ni US la shang wa ai lit ningnan rai nga ai. Ndai lam hku nna sanction lam de aten du jang jawm sawn yu na re.

6. November 15 hta Singapore e galaw na ASEAN Summit ningbaw zuphpawng hta US mung lawm na rai, Myen Prime Minister Thien Sein mung lawm na re. US hte SPDC zuphpawng ginra e shaga hkat ai lam gaw manghkang n rai na sai. Lahkawng maga a matu US policy majaw lit ningnan law law pru nga sai.

7. Thai-Burma ga jarit marawn dingyang hku nna matsan chyaren ni tut hprawng shang wa nga ai, n shawp ai baw hpaga galaw ai ni pru pru shang shang rai nga ai. Dai ni du hkra lahkawng maga de nna ndai manghkang hpe shading nna mahtai tam ai lam n nga ai. US policy a majaw Thai atsuya ya gaw, SPDC hpe ndai lam US a man e mai tsun sai. Ndai policy a majaw SPDC lit la ra ai lam gaw US myit mada ai lailen sharai ai lam hta lawm nga chyalu re.

8. SPDC gaw nuclear laknak masa hta chya pa ginsup ai lam, North Korea hte mazum ai lam ni nga nga ai; ndai ni gaw Thailand a matu tsang shara kaba rai nga ai. Nuclear laknak lam hte seng nna jahkrat tawn ai UN Resolution 1874 hpe US gaw North Korea, Iran hkan ya hkan shatup na lam shakut nga chyalu re; policy ningnan a majaw ndai lam hpe SPDC n mai koi mat sana re. US gaw SPDC hpe Resolution 1874 hkan shatup shangun sana re.

9. Laiwa sai ten hta Thai atsuya gaw, SPDC n shawp n kap ai bungli lam hpe chye lawm tim tinang ra ai daw, tsun mayu ai baw hpaga shabyin daw hpe sha mu ai zawn rai nna, yupmang mu ai zawn re policy ni lang lai wa sai. US policy a majaw Thai mung atsuya a matu mung lit ningnan pru ra ai.