UNFC condemns Burma army shelling of KIA cadets

By Mark Inkey | @markinkey

The Burmese army has been condemned by the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) for killing 23 Kachin Independence Army (KIA) officer cadets and wounding 20 more by firing an artillery shell into their parade ground near Laiza on November 19.

In a press release, the UNFC said: "The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) strongly condemns the cowardly acts by the Burma Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion 389, based at Khaya Bum in Kachin State, intentionally firing 105 mm artilleries at the military academy of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) situated at Woi Chyai Bum, killing 23 cadet officers and wounding 20 others, on November 19, 2014 at 12:36pm."

La Nan, a KIA spokesman told Kachin News that he believed the attack was deliberate. He said: "They [the Burma Army] carefully aimed and shelled the KIA officer trainees military parade at noon, so many were injured and killed."

Khun Okker, a UNFC joint secretary and spokesman, said the attack on the cadets, who were still undergoing training and were parading at the time was a "breach of the rules of engagement" and a criminal act.

The UNFC is a coalition of ethnic armed forces that represents ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) during peace negotiations. It is very closely associated with the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), which is negotiating the nationwide peace process with the Union Level Peace Work Committee (UPWC) representing the government.

The KIA political wing, the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), is a member of both the UNFC and the NCCT.

Khun Okker said that the attack might impact on the nationwide peace process talks currently underway.

He said: "The KIO (The Kachin Independence Organisation) is not happy that there was fighting at their camp because they are initiating a negotiation process."

The UNFC press statement questioned the Burmese army's sincerity.

It said: "The use of military pressure by the Burma Tatmadaw [army] raises the question of whether the Burma Tatmadaw really has the desire and intention for peace, and it should be mindful that such acts are a serious obstacle to the establishment of trust."

Khun Okker suggested that if army personnel were brought to justice for the crime it could help put the peace process back on track.

The KIO had a 17-year ceasefire with the government that ended in 2011 and despite the ongoing peace talks there has been an upsurge of fighting between government forces and the KIA.

The last two months have also seen an upsurge of government offensives in both Karen and Shan States.

About the author:
Mark Inkey is a freelance journalist specialising in Burma and Southeast Asia. Mark is also English editor of Burmese ethnic news umbrella group http://bnionline.net.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/unfc-condemns-burma-army-shelling-of-kia-cadets/