The
pronouncements acknowledged the government armed forces' offensive operations
close to Laiza, the KIA headquarters. But those organizations failed to state
the atrocities of KIA including destroying of lives and property of innocent
people, abduction, striking a series of civilian targets such as roads and
bridges, Defense Ministry mentioned. It said that those organizations turned a
blind eye to the actual events and issued fabricated news. Such biased news
could cause misunderstanding in the public and international community.
The Defense
Ministry's statement also says that government is constantly endeavoring to
achieve ceasefire and peace agreement with all ethnic armed groups with the aim
of building national reconciliation. Consequently, peace agreements have been
reached with all ethnic armed groups except KIO/KIA. It is the Tatmadaw (Burma Army) that is taking
every possible step along with the government to ensure peace, the press
statement says.
It is
the KIA that started attack government troops, who were going to address the
seizure of two Tatmadaw officers and
one private who discharged security duty at Tapein Hydropower Project, by KIA.
The Tatmadaw strictly followed the
instructions of the President Office to halt offensive operations except self-defense.
KIA exploits the situation and attacks the Tatmadaw
camps and Tatmadaw columns with mines, leaving many officers and other ranks
dead or injured, it complains. The press release also accuses KIA of attacking
civilian targets such as roads, bridges, towers and government buildings as
well as government departments including police stations.
Moreover
it also claims that due to the terrorist attacks of KIA, the Tatmadaw inevitably cleared and attacked
the KIA stronghold in Lajanyan region including Point 771 hill starting from 27
December 2012.
Besides,
Defense Ministry gives explanation that Tatmadaw
halted the regional clearance operations in Lajanyan region since 6.00 am 19
January 2013 since it has achieved the limited objective of ensuring the
security in Lajanyan region and the security of Myitkyina-Bhamo high way. However,
it had to react for self-defence when KIA came and attacked Tatmadaw columns.
According
to the media reports, the fresh attacks on KIO locations near Laiza
occured just days after Burma Army's Northern Commander sent a letter to the
KIO HQ. The letter signed by Brig-Gen Tun Tun Naung demands KIO pull out
its troops stationed around Lajayang immediately. However, the KIO
rejected the demand, by saying it will not withdraw from Lajayang or
any other areas of strategic value in and around the Laiza.
It is
horrendous because the government had used not only heavy artillery but also
enforced gunship-helicopters and jet-fighters during military operation against
the ethnic Kachin rebels at Lajanyan including Point 771 hill. The news about
government airstrikes is hitting the headlines through the media.
Even
though the Defense Ministry said its troops stopped offensive operations except
self-defense, its soldiers have increasingly sped up the offensive war to a new
phase. It is not clear whether the government is saying one thing and doing
another or the soldiers themselves are going against the President's orders.
Nevertheless, human rights violations of Burmese soldiers in ethnic states must
be taken responsibility by both military chief and the President since abuses
are intolerable breaches of international laws.
"The Tatmadaw had to inevitably react for
self-defense for security of lives and property, smooth and secure
transportation and community peace and tranquility," the statement says so.
On the
contrary, people do not support the explanation of the Defense Ministry, as day
to day events on the Kachin frontline come up continually through the media
reports sent by the reliable war reporters from battle-zones. Burmese
government armed forces operate a number of aggressive attacks in January in
Kachin State even though suffering a heavy death toll. Fighting goes on fatally
around KIO headquarters. All the fierce battles have occurred in KIO's
territories where the government soldiers intentionally enter by force or no
more a self-protective battle.
The
statement also says: "The Tatmadaw is
in the process of providing necessary aids to local people who were displaced
due to lack of security. In the process, it is airlifting supplies for locals
in Putao who are facing the shortage of food."
But, it
seems diametrically opposed with the situation on the ground. The UN's Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, publicly
urged Burmese government in last December to allow the UN to resume aid
consignments to refugee camps in non-government controlled parts of Kachin
state held by the KIO.
"For almost six months now, the UN has not been able to provide assistance to almost 40,000 people as we are not permitted to go to KIA-controlled areas," Ms. Valerie Amos told a news conference during her four day visit to Burma in December 2012.
"We hope the Government will give us permission to travel to these areas and provide the aid that is so desperately needed," Ms. Amos added.
Although the Under-Secretary-General Ms. Amos has made a candid call, President Thein Sein did not allow the UN to resume aid delivery so far.
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