KIO shifting important documents from Laiza

Apprehending an offensive by the Burmese Army, given the mounting tension, the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO) has ordered its staff members to shift all important files and office equipment from its headquarters in Laiza town to other places, source close to the outfit said.

KIA's 1st brigade command in Triangle Area in northern Kachin State, Burma.

The KIO based in Kachin state in Northern Burma is under threat from the military junta after negotiations over transforming its armed wing the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to the Border Guard Force (BGF), failed. It decided at yesterday’s morning meeting in Laiza to move important things, said the source.

KIO has different departments such as Department of General Administration, DGA – or civil administration, armed-wing KIA, Health, Education, Forest and Agriculture, Reconstruction, Police and Investigation, Immigration, Culture and Literature, Legal and Court, Central Treasury, Economy and Tax and Revenue according to the official list.

KIO introduced its government departments to the junta last year in a bid to convince it that they were working for the welfare of the people. The regime paid no heed.

“Local people have been watching the developments relating to the continuing negotiation between the KIO and junta, but they are ready to flee if war breaks out,” said a source in Laiza town, where most residents live along with KIO members and their family.

“The youth want to fight, fed up with injustice and oppression but the elders don’t,” said the source explaining the different opinions among ethnic Kachin people.

KIO delegates led by Vice-president No. 1 Lt-Gen Gauri Zau Seng met junta’s Northern Command Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win on Friday in Myitkyina the capital of Kachin State following its Central Committee meeting from March 1 to 10 to deliberate on the junta proposed BGF.

KIO would rather have political parleys than talking about the BGF issue now, they told the commander.

At the moment fresh Burmese troops are being deployed close to KIA’s military camp and its headquarter Laiza on the Sino-Burma border, said eyewitnesses.

A villager said the Infantry Battalion No. 321 has been deployed near the KIO/A headquarters in Laiza at Dalaw village near Namsan Yang village with at least 200 troops.

“They are being deployed in small groups, day and night, not in big numbers at one go,” said the villager.

From where the Burmese troops are being positioned they can reach in a short time to the KIA’s camp in Bandawng village, said the source.

Battalion No.321 is based in Shwe Nyaung Pyin village in Waimaw (or Waingmaw) Township and more and more Burmese troops are being stationed close to the KIA military camps.

Last month over 730 Burmese soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion No. 521 and Infantry Battalion No. 74 based in Myitkyina-Mandalay railway city were deployed near the KIA main military camps.

They are equipped with heavy weaponry such as artillery and mortars and are camped in the former KIO/A headquarters Pajau-Nahpaw Bum from where they can hit the KIA with long-range weapons in Laiza.

Since last April KIO and junta officials have met at least 10 times to discuss the BGF issue and finally the junta set February 28 as the deadline but the KIO failed to respond.

Meanwhile from March 8 the junta is publishing its electoral laws in their mouthpiece “The New Light of Myanmar” for the general elections in 2010 which is the fifth step of their so called Seven-step Roadmap for democracy in Burma.

Source :http://kachinnews.com/News/KIO-shifting-important-documents-from-Laiza.html