Lasang Awng Wa Absent in Meeting with KIO

The Kachin Post

December 06, 2004 — Col Lasang Awng Wa, leader of Kachin Independence Organization’s splinter group, has cancelled his trip to attend a meeting in Laiza today, giving a reason that he is in serious health condition, said a KIO officer.

Only 9 members, including Lt-Col Padip Gam Awng, of Lasang Awng Wa group present today’s meeting where almost all of KIO central committee members are ready to finalize the split within KIO. Previously, today meeting would be the last meeting to patch up KIO split by welcoming splinter members and giving them to appropriate positions.

A KIO officer, who attend today’s meeting, said the problem won’t be solved without Lasang Awng Wa. I think there has been a power struggle within the splinter group and one of the leading members Rev N’hkum Doi La, who don’t want Lasang Awng Wa to attend meeting, he added.

KIO is willing to give positions for splinter group’s members who are former KIO members. However, the organization is reluctant to grant positions to splinters group’s members who are not former KIO members, like N’hkum Doi La.

Doi La, who was arrested in January by accused of involving coup attempt in KIO headquarters, is actively involved in splinter group. But, he is not a signatory member of the resolution of Kachin Consultative Assembly, KCA, meeting in Myitkyina. On November 12, Lasang Awng Wa, Padip Gam Awng and 6 other leaders from KIO, New Democratic Army-Kachin and KCA signed to reunion KIO.