Cadets of the Kachin Independence Army marched to their barracks.Thomas Fuller/The International Herald Tribune
From The New York Times:
LAIZA, Myanmar — The Kachin tribesmen who inhabit the hills along Myanmar’s border with China have a reputation as stealthy jungle warriors, famous for repelling Japanese attacks in the Second World War with booby traps and instilling terror by slicing off ears to tally their kills.
Now, as they have many times in their war-scarred history, the Kachin are hoping for peace but are prepared for battle with Myanmar’s central government.
“Whether or not there will be war again, we have to be ready,” Maj. Zauja Nhkri, the head of an officer’s training school that is part of the Kachin Independence Army, which has around 4,000 men under arms.
Read more .....
My Comment: Minority ethnic groups that have a sense of autonomy are always loathe to give up their "powers and rights". This has especially been the case for Myanmar. While I am skeptica
LAIZA, Myanmar — The Kachin tribesmen who inhabit the hills along Myanmar’s border with China have a reputation as stealthy jungle warriors, famous for repelling Japanese attacks in the Second World War with booby traps and instilling terror by slicing off ears to tally their kills.
Now, as they have many times in their war-scarred history, the Kachin are hoping for peace but are prepared for battle with Myanmar’s central government.
“Whether or not there will be war again, we have to be ready,” Maj. Zauja Nhkri, the head of an officer’s training school that is part of the Kachin Independence Army, which has around 4,000 men under arms.
Read more .....
My Comment: Minority ethnic groups that have a sense of autonomy are always loathe to give up their "powers and rights". This has especially been the case for Myanmar. While I am skeptica
Now, as they have many times in their war-scarred history, the Kachin are hoping for peace but are prepared for battle with Myanmar’s central government.
“Whether or not there will be war again, we have to be ready,” Maj. Zauja Nhkri, the head of an officer’s training school that is part of the Kachin Independence Army, which has around 4,000 men under arms.
Read more .....
My Comment: Minority ethnic groups that have a sense of autonomy are always loathe to give up their "powers and rights". This has especially been the case for Myanmar. While I am skeptical that the Generals in Myanmar are eager to give up their powers, I am not skeptical that war will be breaking out in some of its provinces. The central government for Myanmar cannot afford to have movements that support independence .... they know that it would only spread to other regions and would undermine their own authority .... hence expect conflicts to continue and in some cases expand.
“Whether or not there will be war again, we have to be ready,” Maj. Zauja Nhkri, the head of an officer’s training school that is part of the Kachin Independence Army, which has around 4,000 men under arms.
Read more .....
My Comment: Minority ethnic groups that have a sense of autonomy are always loathe to give up their "powers and rights". This has especially been the case for Myanmar. While I am skeptical that the Generals in Myanmar are eager to give up their powers, I am not skeptical that war will be breaking out in some of its provinces. The central government for Myanmar cannot afford to have movements that support independence .... they know that it would only spread to other regions and would undermine their own authority .... hence expect conflicts to continue and in some cases expand.