Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Myitkyina (Fides Service) - "Ethnic cleansing" and "humanitarian emergency" is what is happening in the Kachin State in northern Myanmar, where a conflict is raging between the Burmese army, and the Kachin Independent Army (see Fides 24 and 27.6.2011), as a local priest tells Fides, who requested anonymity for security reasons. Priests and nuns in the diocese of Myitkyina (which covers the territory of the Kachin State) - refers to the priest - "they are doing everything to help the ethnic Kachin refugees, almost all Christians, victims of a brutal repression carried out by the Burmese military". There are about 20 thousand IDPs and the number is constantly increasing: at least 5,000 in Laize (city on the border with China), more than 2,000 in the city of Shwegu, more than 10 thousand in the villages of Manwing and Prang HKU Dung and thousands more scattered in the forests.
The clashes began when the Burmese government concluded an agreement with China for the construction of a dam that will power a hydroelectric plant in the Kachin territory. The project will cause the evacuation and the flooding of villages and areas where the Kachin people live, who rebelled provoking a violent repression on behalf of the Burmese army.
Priests, nuns and lay people – explains the source of Fides - are doing their utmost to save the lives of their faithful, keeping the villagers out of danger, and moving them away from areas of conflict: "They are women, children and old people who are at the mercy of the soldiers. These, when they meet the Kachin villages, carry out, for revenge, all sorts of violence, abuse and ransacking: they kill old people and children, rape women, burn homes, confiscate properties. They use ruthless methods to ethnic cleansing: it is a real tragedy".
"For this – he continues- the civilians leave the villages in a hurry to escape the violent repression, shifting to places considered safer. And the refugees are in serious difficulties for the rainy season. We are experiencing a authentic humanitarian emergency".
"The priests and nuns are helping them by putting their lives at risk: in fact, they could be arrested at any time by the military, in the charges of collaborating with the rebels. But here we are dealing with helping the innocent and helpless, trying to save them from a terrible fate ", he remarks.
According to sources of Fides, after international pressure, the Burmese military junta has sent conciliatory messages, saying it is inclined to a cease-fire. But, on the other hand, is deploying substantial forces and military assets in the North of the country, to launch "final offensive" and destroy the Kachin army, made up of guerrillas hiding in the forest. Meanwhile all the churches of the diocese of Myitkyina are praying for peace. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/06/2011)
