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A Burmese soldier stands guard at the Kachin State Day Manau Festival, Myitkyina, 10 January 2011.
Long-time New Mandala readers will know that one of my prevailing academic interests is the portion of mainland Southeast Asia where northern Burma runs into northeast India and southwest China. This confluence has seen much inter-ethnic and ideological conflict over the decades and in 2011 the political temperature in northern Burma is rising.
On my recent visit to that part of the world I could appreciate some of the current tension first-hand.
Today there are initial reports that the 17-year Kachin Independence Army/Organisation (KIA/O) ceasefire with the Burmese military has ended. There has been some fighting, with KIO sources indicating that a Burmese Lieutenant Colonel has been killed.
It may prove some time before any further details are available. This resumption of armed hostilities comes right after the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Kachin “revolution” on 5 February 2011.
Some questions immediately spring to mind: Does this recent flare-up signal the return to war in the Kachin State? What does the relatively new Northern Commander of the Burmese military, Brigadier General Zeyar Aung, have in mind? How ready are the KIA, and their countless sympathisers among the Kachin population of northern Burma, for a new generation of conflict? Does this herald the beginning of more widespread violence that could draw in other ceasefire armies?
Today there are many more questions than answers.
While we wait for answers to some of these questions, this small selection of photographs may help to provide a view of the dominance that the Burmese authorities have exerted in the Kachin State in recent months. These pictures could be profitably compared with an earlier set from January 2008. In 2011, by contrast, there was no uniformed attendance by the Kachin Independence Army although the former New Democratic Army – Kachin (now Border Guard Force) were present in very modest numbers (to provide security for Zahkung Ting Ying who was recently elected to the National Assembly for Kachin State Constituency 4).
From beginning (almost) until the end, the Northern Command of the Burmese military was functionally in-charge of this Kachin Manau festival.
On a cloudy day, the new flag of the Union of Myanmar flies over the Manau poles.
Burmese soldiers in front of a banner that can be translated as: Kachin Peoples’ Cultural Manau Festival. The Burmese soldier closest to camera wears the distinctive shoulder patch of the Northern Command.
Brigadier General Zeyar Aung, Northern Commander of the Burmese Army and Chairman of the Kachin State Peace and Development Council, dances at the Manau festival, 8 January 2011. He is the one swaying forwards, wearing the green jacket with the purple head-dress, surrounded by his security detail and photographers. Zeyar Aung is a former Commander of Light Infantry Division 88 and was also previously the Commandant of the Defence Services Academy.
One component of the extensive security detail that accompanies the Northern Commander when he travels around Myitkyina.
Posing for pictures with the Northern Commander’s security detail.
Burmese Police, Military Police, Soldiers and other security personnel observe the Manau.
A Burmese Army Captain photographs a Burmese Army Captain in front of the Manau poles.
A plain-clothes Burmese security officer (note the ear-piece) photographs Burmese Army officers alongside Chinese visitors.
Burmese Army officers pose for pictures with their new Chinese friends.
The Manau dance leaders pass in front of the Manau poles with their distinctive “crossed swords” emblem. For some more details on the history of the symbol this post from the archives may prove helpful. Crossed swords are, of course, the key symbol of the Kachin Independence Army/Organisation.
I don’t have any answers to the questions, but I’ve thought since I heard the military was essentially running the manau that it was one of many attempts to provoke the KIA/KIO and the Kachin people. It was definitely a hostile act, yet another example of creating a desert and calling it peace.
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The Kachin News Group‘s new report has some details that may help to answer one of the key questions. Apparently:
If it was a false start on the part of the local Burmese Army commander then he, and his men, sure did pay a high price for the error. And if this was some deliberate effort to test whether the KIA is actually prepared to defend its territory then I guess Zeyar Aung and his tacticians have their answer. Tense times.
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Kachin-Burmese War again? How long will it last?
After 1967 Chinese riots in Rangoon where thousands of innocent Chinese were slaughtered by the Burmese mob the CPB North-East military region started receiving massive Chinese military support in both weapons and so-called red-guard volunteers.
Even the anti-Communist KIA received the weapon assistance from the Chinese Communist through CPB. But later KIA refused CPB assistance and started negotiations with the Burmese Army. This is what CPB’s People Power Journal wrote about the thinking and rational of then KIA’s leader Maran Branseng.
If we keep on fighting, in the long run the Burmese will survive but we Kachins will cease to exist. There are more than 30 millions Burmese while we have less than one million Kachins. Even if we could kill ten Burmese for one Kachin at the end there will still be 20 millions Burmese but no Kachin left standing. We don’t want to fight a long war with Burmese.
That was in 1979. There were no Chinese investments in Kachin Land. Now nobody knows how much China has poured into those 18 hydro electric projects in the area. Conservative estimate is more than a billion dollar. Chinese will definitely not give rifles and ammo to KIA.
If Kachin-Burmese war breaks out again how long will it last and who will suffer ultimately?
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The KIO had an agreement with the CPB in 1968 which resulted in the KIA getting several hundred weapons. The agreement lasted 4 months. The KIO then fought the CPB until the mid 1970s.
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The KIO/KIA see the Burmese-Kachin conflict in racial terms and so they refused the CPB’s assistance in the 1970s. So did the Kokangs who mutinied against the CPB in 1989. Now where are they? The KNU is the first to fight on racial ground for secession since 1949 and they failed miserably. The Burma Army will stay in power so long as the ethnic armed groups in Burma base their struggles on racial basis. All rthnic groups should fight on the basis of democratic principles for equality, justice and fraternity.
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The KIO refused the CPB’s offer due to their opposition to being put under the control of the CPB. Under Maran Brang Seng, the KIO dropped demands for a separate independent state and asked for a federal union, as did a number of other ethnic groups. The Kokang forces were originally a part of the CPB, which was not in favor of independent ethnic states. As far as I am aware the Kokang people may have asked for autonomy, but never an independent country. Only the KNU has consistently asked for a separate independent country, so to blame the ethnic minorities for the military staying in power because of minority racial bias requires a pretty selective reading, or rather misreading of post-independence Burmese history.
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Sad how the Burmese try to control and suppress even the Kachin’s cultural and religious affairs.
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