Around 3,000 people joined the Lisu National Protest Committee’s May 22 demonstration, demanding the Kachin Independence Army apologize for allegedly terrorizing the Lisu people.
“First, they must apologize to us for unlawfully killing our people. Second, we want an official pledge that they will prevent such crimes from happening again,” said U Shwe Min, chair of the Lisu National Development Party (LNDP), which participated in the protest.
U Shwe Min accused the KIA of detaining Lisu civilians, and beating and torturing them for extortion. He added that innocent Lisu people have been murdered while clearing forest land for farming, and while foraging for tubers and bulbs.
The KIA’s information officer Lieutenant Colonel Naw Bu denied accusations that his organization harasses the Lisu people, or any other ethnic group.
“The KIO does not have any policy supporting racial discrimination and killings. It does not exist in reality,” he said.
He accused the Tatmadaw of stoking the protest.
“I want to say that our enemy has intentionally caused dissension,” he added.
U Shwe Min said the protest was only targeted at the KIA, and not any other ethnic group or organization. Protesters from 15 townships around Kachin States took part in the demonstration.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by Laignee Barron
