On 4 February 2013, representatives from the Kachin Independence Organisation
(KIO) and the Burmese Government’s Union Peace-making Working Committee (UPWC)
met in the Chinese Town of Ruili (Shweli). It was the first time the two sides
had met since the escalation of the conflict in December 2012.
A later meeting, held on 11 March, further solidified the two
side’s attempts to find a compromise and end the conflict. It was also the
first time that the United Nationalities Federal Council was officially engaged
in the peace process on behalf of one of its members. Initial indications
suggest that both sides are hopeful that a compromise can be met and an end to
the conflict may soon ensue.
The 4
February meeting was extremely important in defusing the tensions between the
KIO and the Burmese Government. In December 2013, the fighting between the two
sides had intensified and on 14 December 2012 a concerted effort was made by
the Tatmadaw to fully control the Lajayang area only 18 km away from the Laiza Headquarters
of the KIO. The escalation saw not only ground troops and artillery involved
but also, for the first time, the use of air power.
On 18
January 2013, the Government was able to gain control over the Lajayang area
forcing KIA forces to retreat to the Lawa Yang front line only 8 km from Laiza.[1] State
television then officially announced that there would be a ceasefire in the in
the area commencing at 06.00 am on 19 January 2012.[2] Despite
the announcement, the fighting continued and the Tatmadaw finally took the last
strategic high ground of Hka Ya Bum on January 26 at an estimated cost of over 120 Tatmadaw dead and nearly 400 wounded.[3] This was a serious blow to the Kachin resistance movement
and it was expected that a further Tatmadaw offensive would see the fall of its
Laiza headquarters. Despite having a strategic advantage, no such offensive
occurred.
The February meeting
By the beginning of February 2013 the number of clashes had decreased markedly.
As a result, further talks were then planned to find a political solution to
end the conflict. The KIO delegation was led by General Gun Maw, KIA vice chief
of staff, while the government side was led by President Thein Sein's chief
Negotiator Aung Min and Livestock Minister Ohn Myint. It was decided that the
talks would take place in Ruili, China and that members from the KNU, the RCSS,
and the Euro-Burma office would also attend. In addition, the Chinese
Government, who had been pressuring the KIO to find a solution to the conflict,
offered to mediate the meeting, however, the request was declined and the
Chinese sent representatives to observe.
According
to the Euro-Burma office, China had objected to its presence claiming it was an
international organization, a claim that was rejected by both the Kachin
Independence Organisation and the Burmese Government. China had also objected
to the KIO and the Government agreeing to the need for ceasefire monitors and
the need to provide humanitarian assistance to internally displaced
populations. Consequently, these issues were then dropped from the official
record of the meeting.[4]
Another
problem at the meeting was the fact that no military representation was
included in the Government’s peace delegation. It was believed, at least by one
analyst, that the reason for the lack of military representation was the fact
that:
At peace talks on 30 October, the Myanmar military sent senior
commanders to participate, but the Kachin sent only lower-level
representatives, meaning that military discussions on separation of forces
could not be held. It was interpreted as a snub by the military and left
government negotiator U Aung Min undermined as he had worked hard to convince
the army to send a very senior army commander to attend the talks in China only
for him to be stood up.[5]
Despite
this, both sides issued a five-point joint statement at the end of the February
talks:
1. Talks between a delegation
led by Vice-Chairman of Union Level Peace-Making Committee Union Minister U
Aung Min and KIO negotiation team, was held in Shweli of Yunnan Province of the
People’s Republic of China from 9 am to 16:15 pm today.
2. Ambassador Mr Luo Zhaohui
of Foreign Affairs Ministry of the PRC, KNU Chairman General Saw Mutu Sae Poe,
General Secretary Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win and one member, Brig-Gen Sai Lu of
RCSS/SSA and two members, U Han Nyaung Wai and U Victor Biak Lian, have attended
the talks as witnesses.
3. Talks focused on
establishing communication channels, reducing military tension, preparing for
next talks and the invitation of observers and organizations as witnesses in
the next meeting.
4. KIO has agreed to hold the
next talks before the end of February after making coordination with UNFC and
to continue holding the political talks between the government and KIO.
5. Both sides have agreed to
continue to hold talks for emergence of a surveillance system in the
conflict-affected areas for achieving ceasefire swiftly between the government
and KIO.[6]
While the
joint-statement was an encouraging sign it was the March meeting that was
attended by the military that would be the most optimistic.
The March Meeting
The March meeting took place, again in Ruili, from the 11-12
March. It was attended by the Union Peace-Making Committee led by Vice-Chairman
of the Committee Minister U Aung Min and Lt-Gen Myint Soe. The KIO delegation
led by KIO Standing Central Committee member U Swan Lut Gam, four
representatives from the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), two from
the SSPP, two from the RCSS, two from the NDAA-ESS, four from the Myanmar Peace
Centre and Minister-Counsellor Mr Wang Zongying of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the PRC and two from the PRC as observers.
Joint Statement
1. Talks
between the Union Peace-Making Committee led by Vice-Chairman of the Committee
Union Minister U Aung Min and Lt-Gen Myint Soe and members and KIO delegation
led by KIO Standing Central Committee member U Swan Lut Gam were held at Shweli
of the People’s Republic of China on 11-12 March.
2. It was
attended by four from United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), two from
SSPP, two from RCSS, two from NDAA, four from PCG and Minister-Counselor Mr
Wang Zongying from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC and two from the
PRC as observers.
3. Both
sides held a cordial discussion and have reached the following agreements.
a) To work
till both sides reach the ceasefire based on mutual understanding, respect
and trust for starting genuine political talks.
b) To
continue making coordination for both troops in the conflict areas as the
battles could be reduced as a result of the 4-Feb talks and to issue
necessary directives and orders to be applied to basic level troops and
respective troops of both sides.
c) To open
Coordination and Monitoring Offices if necessary so as to make field trips and
monitor the front lines and to make close coordination.
d) To
continue to implement the agreements that reached on 4 February 2013 and 11-12
March 2013.
e) To hold
the next talks by 10 April, 2013.
f) To
continue making step-by-step coordination for holding country-wide genuine
political talks.[7]
According
to Dr La Ja, General Secretary of the Kachin Independence Organisation, the
talks were much more positive.[8] Nonetheless,
clashes continued to be reported, especially in the KIA 4 Brigade area, and
large scale Tatmadaw movements continued in the Lajayang area. Both the KIO and
the Government agreed to reopen the Myitkyina-Putao highway primarily to
alleviate food shortages that had caused severe suffering for the local
population.
While the
meeting had been largely encouraging, it still failed to address the main
concern of the KIO in relation to political dialogue, and the KIO saw the
meeting as another opportunity to build up trust. Although China continues to
exert pressure on the KIO to sign an agreement with the Government, the KIO is
insistent that a ceasefire agreement can only be based on a concrete political
settlement. Further complications include the fact that the Kachin Independence
Organisation has yet to create a military code of conduct which would be
instrumental in recognizing rules of engagement between the two armed forces.
While the
military situation may be easier to solve once a code of conduct and political
dialogue is agreed, the fact that over 200 villages have been destroyed[9] and
approximately 100,000 people made homeless needs to be addressed. Reconstruction
and rehabilitation work needs to begin as soon as possible in areas where
security can be guaranteed. Many of the internally displaced people remain
cautious in regards to the peace process and the conflict has even further
diminished their trust in the current Government.
The
Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) has previously recommended
immediate de-mining; no forced recruitment of soldiers; and easy access for
humanitarian aid to the conflict-stricken region. In its statement No (2/2013),
dated 28 March 2013, the MNHRC reiterated its calls for:
- armed groups, relevant
domestic and foreign organizations should cooperate when demining is
undertaken:
- villagers should be
educated on landmines:
- armed groups should not
under any circumstances commit human rights violations on the local populace:
- there should be no forced
recruitment of new soldiers: and
- the Issue of humanitarian
access and safe passage for humanitarian supplies should be addressed.
The
statement concludes with:
In order to alleviate the sufferings of the displaced persons and
also to contribute more to the peace talks, it Is argued again that while the
peace talks are being held with the objective of ultimately achieving peace in
the Kachin State, the above mentioned recommendations of the Myanmar National
Human Rights Commission should be implemented as a priority.
April
peace talks which were originally scheduled at the beginning of the month have
been moved towards the end of April due to the inability of some observers to
attend. The talks, which are due to be held in Myitkyina, a location previously
refused by the KIO, offer another opportunity to build up trust between the two
sides and hopefully see a final cessation of hostilities. In the meantime, serious
consideration needs to be given to the recommendations of the MNHRC by the
Burmese Government, the KIO, and the international community.
Notes
[1] ‘Kachin
army digs in for final assault’, Mon Mon Myat, Bangkok Post, 27 January 2013
[2] http://english.cntv.cn/20130119/100574.shtml
[3] ‘Pyrrhic
victory in Myanmar’, Anthony Davis, Asia Times Online, 31 Jan 2013
[4] ‘Ethnic
Coordination & Unity’, EBO Briefing Paper No.2, February 2013
[5] A serious threat
to peace in Myanmar, by Jim Della-Giacoma, 10 January 2013
[6] ‘Union
Level Peace Making Committee holds peace talks with KIO’,
New Light
of Myanmar: Tue 5 Feb 2013
[7] ‘Peace
talks between the Union Peace-Making Committee and KIO held’, New Light of
Myanmar, 13 March 2012
[8] Personal
Conversation with Dr La Ja, 21 March 2013
[9] Kachin Baptist Convention says 66
churches and over 200 member villages destroyed