KIO launches a committee to discuss BGF plan
The Kachin Post / June 06, 2009

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has launched a seven-member committee to discuss with Burmese military government regarding the issue of Border Guard Force (BGF) proposed by Burmese Junta, according to KIO sources. The plan intends to transform KIO’s arms wing, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), to Border Guard Force under Burma army.

The KIO’s delegation committee comprises Lt-Gen. Gauri Zau Seng (vice chairman of KIO), Dr. La Ja (central committee member), Brig-Gen Gun Maw (vice chief of staff of KIA), Maj. Gawlu La Awng,  Lt-Col. Lahpai La Awng, Lt-Col. Lazing Ji Naw and Kumhtat Hting Nan. The committee was formed after the public meeting with KIO leaders in Laiza in last week. The committee has not revealed detail-discussion plan to public yet.  

A Kachin political analyst in U.S.A believes that there would be no positive ways for KIO, unless the organization has a concrete plan to break through this point. “Just killing the time wouldn’t yield any positive result,” he said. “This is the right time for all ethnic groups in Burma to engage together in playing give-and-take political game with Burmese junta.”

Meanwhile, KIO has been dispatching its leading members to various places in Kachin State and Northern Shan State to hold public meeting to reveal the junta’s plan for KIA to transform Border Guard Force and collect the public opinion for that issue.

So far, KIO has received hundreds of feedback, opinions and letters from Kachins around the world, according to KIO. Majority of Kachins’ opinions reveal that Border Guard Force plan is unacceptable for all Kachins.

The Border Guard Force plan was proposed by Burmese Junta to all ethnic cease-fire groups since May 2009. The plan intends to transform all ethnic armies to Border Guard Force before end of 2009.