ICC Note:

The Kachin people in Myanmar have called on the government to release civilians that were arrested by security forces. Fighting between a Kachin militia groups and Myanmar’s military forces broke out in late November. During the conflict, military forces arrested 70 civilians that were travelling to a wedding, many of which have still not been released. The Kachin Peace Network said, “Such an arbitrary detention of the civilians is a clear sign of breaching the Geneva Convention…” Myanmar’s government, which is predominantly Buddhist, has waged a de facto war on the Kachin people, which are predominantly Christian, and the Rohingya, which are predominantly Muslim. The Kachin people have experienced decades of repression and persecution for their faith. Kachin separatist militias have continued to clash with government forces in a bid for greater autonomy. Unfortunately, the results of these clashes often spill into civilian life with documented cases arrests, torture, and executions on both sides.

12/2/2016 Myanmar (Radio Free Asia) – A Kachin civil society organization has called on the Myanmar government to immediately release civilians arrested by military forces in the Mong Ko area of Muse township in northern Shan state, where fierce fighting between ethnic armed groups and national army has recently occurred.

The Kachin Peace Network (KPN) wants the military to free civilians who have been detained since Nov. 20, when fierce fighting broke out in Muse, as well as ensure the protection of life and dignity of local residents, according to a statement the group issued on Tuesday.

“We have been asking for the release of detained civilians, asking the government and ethnic armed groups to stop fighting and to resolve the current conflicts and problems together by peaceful means,” said Gwan Sha Aung from the KPN, an advocacy group of Kachin professionals whose motto is “Justice Guarantees Lasting Peace.”

During the hostilities that occurred near Mong Ko, Myanmar’s armed forces arrested 70 civilians who were on their way to a wedding in Hpau Jung Pa village, the statement said. Authorities released a dozen of the detained who were relatives from China on Nov. 21, and freed another two from Myanmar on Nov. 25. Security forces are still holding the others.

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