STATEMENT
FROM THE BURMA ETHNIC NATIONALITIES NETWORK - CANADA
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January
12, 2013
The Burma Ethnic Nationalities
Network-Canada (BENN-C) is a common advocacy platform for ethnic nationalities
living across Canada. BENN-C, representing all Burmese ethnic
nationalities residing across Canada urges the government of the Union of
Myanmar to immediately stop the military offensive against the Kachins.
The Burma Army “Tatmadaw” has been
conducting a military offensive against the Kachin since June 2011, breaking a
ceasefire that had lasted for 17 years. The Human rights violations
committed by the government soldiers against civilians living in the conflict
areas are outrageous. Over 100,000 civilians have been internally displaced
since the war began, and the Burma Army has been accused of grave human rights
violations, including rape, torture, destruction of villages, looting and
desecration of churches, and killing civilians. While ceasefire agreements have been reached with some ethnic groups but
the military offensives against the Kachins have escalated in recent
days.
According to latest independent news
reports, four jet fighters and two helicopter gunships were used to attack
Kachin Independence Army (KIA) troops close to their headquarters at Laiza, on
the China-Burma border. The aerial attack follows several days of shelling and
a significant increase in troop movement. This ongoing fierce aerial assaults
and shelling indiscriminately on unarmed citizens by Burma Army have cost many
lives and wasted so much financial resources that could be used for the most
needed social and economic development projects for the citizens of Burma.
Therefore, we would like to ask the
government of Myanmar and the international communities to take the following
actions immediately.
· To
stop military offensive, hostilities and the human rights violations in Kachin
State and Northern Shan State immediately.
· To
provide immediate and direct humanitarian assistance to over 100,000 IDPs in
Kachin State.
· To
stop blocking the humanitarian aid access to the refugees in Kachin State from
the international community, UNHCR and other agencies.
· To
conduct an inclusive peace dialogue with United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)
and all other stake holders to achieve the political solution for a long
lasting peace in Burma/Myanmar.
In
conclusion, we would like to request Canada to help bring an end to the war in
Burma, by being a leading mediator of peace in establishing a meaningful
dialogue for peace between ethnic groups including the Kachins and the
government of Myanmar.
Contact Persons:
Zaw Wai Kyaw 416 358 2318 email: zaw.w.kyaw@gmail.com
Burma Ethnic Nationalities Network-Canada
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