Burma: End the ethnic cleansing war immediately.........Hong Kong Coalition of free Burma: 12 June 2012

Hong Kong Coalition of free Burma: 12 June 2012

香港爭取緬甸自由聯盟

Statement

Burma: End the ethnic cleansing war immediately

緬甸：立即停止種族清洗戰爭

Since March 30, 2011 when President Thein Sein took office, the rhetoric of his government has changed markedly. He and his party have noticed the carrying changes inside the country. For example, the country now agrees with Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League in political reforms, giving the amnesty announcement for releasing the prisoners, suspending the Myit Sone Dam project, talking ceasefire with other ethnic nationalities, and the relaxation of restrictions on local media and civil society.

自總統登盛於2011年3月30日上任後，其政府有明顯變化。他及其黨員已經注意到國家內部的轉變。例如，該國現已同意昂山素姬及全國民主聯盟的政治改革、特赦在囚人士、暫停密松水壩（Myit Sone Dam）項目、與其他民族討論停火、並放鬆對該國的媒體及公民社會的禁制。

Since then, observers and scholars have argued that the government is showing a commitment to bring about the reforms that will result in an overall improvement in human rights conditions. The question remains though, why haven’t the gun sounds from northern Burma, Kachin state stop yet?

自此，觀察員及學者爭論著，該國政府正顯示其對改革的承諾，並因此而達致整體人權狀況有改善。問題仍然存在，為何來自緬甸北部克欽邦 (Kachin State)的槍聲仍然不絕？

Despite all the talk about the new conditions in Burma, the human right conditions in the country are getting worse ever since the new government took power. The fighting in the Kachin State began in June after a 17-year-old ceasefire broke down, spreading across all parts of the state with steady intensity. Reports have emerged, claiming that the Burma army soldiers have gang-raped women and girls, killed civilians including some women who have been subjected to  rape, the destruction of churches and homes, and the killings. These acts are war crimes and are crimes against humanity.

即使所有對話落在緬甸的新發展上，該國的人權狀況卻在新政府上場後變得更差。自17年停火破裂後，克欽邦的戰爭由6月開始發生，穩定而強烈地漫延至整個國家。報告顯示，緬甸軍隊集體強暴婦女及女孩，殺害平民，包括有婦女姦後被殺，拆毀教堂及家園，還有殺戮。這些都是戰爭罪行，而且更是違反人道的罪行。

At the time of writing, the number of internally displaced people was reported to be over 75,000. For the most part, the internally displaced people are aided through little local efforts, since the authorities have blocked attempts by groups based in the country.

據報導，國內流離失所的人數超過75,000人。在多數情況下小團體都會幫助國內流失的流離失所人，不過政府已經禁止駐該國團體進一步行動。

On June 8, 2012 marks the first anniversary of the new conflict in Kachin State. On that day, the Kachin organizations and communities around the world, along with regional and international civil society, and the human rights groups held a Global Day of Action for the Kachin this week. This event aims for the withdrawal of Burma Army troops, unhindered access for humanitarian aid to IDPs and refugees, an end to human rights abuses, and the establishment of a meaningful political dialogue.

在2012年6月8日，即新戰事在克欽邦發生的第一年紀念日。這一天，來自世界各地的克欽邦團體及社群，與地區性或國際性公民社會，及人權組織走在一起，在這一個星期舉辦世界行動週。這個活動旨在呼籲緬甸軍隊撤離，為流離失所人士及難民無障礙提供人道救援，結束侵權行為，及建立有意義的政治對話。

Today, the Hong Kong Collection of free Burma (HKCFB) is drawing the world’s attention to the atrocious and unacceptable human sufferings in Kachin State, Burma, including the widespread persecution of ethnic nationalities and religious minorities in Burma by the military regime. We are doing the action protest, and are calling for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Kachin State.

今日，香港爭取緬甸自由聯盟希望全球關注，在緬甸克欽邦殘暴而不能接受的苦難，包括在緬甸軍事政權下，不斷擴散對少數族裔及少數宗教團體的迫害。我們抗議，並呼籲結束在克欽邦的人道危機。

We are aware that the government and the KIO have held several rounds of talks during the recent months, but the government has still refused to discuss the core political concerns at the heart of the conflict. We highlight both arm groups to solve the political solution through peaceful dialogue.

我們留意到政府及克欽獨立軍在近月已有數次對話，但政府仍然拒絕討論引致衝突的重要關注點。我們強調兩個軍事團體透過和平對話解決這場政治問題。

We are concerned that the government would support the independent mechanism to investigate the abuses of all sides. The Burmese government has to ensure that those engaged with massive violations against the international humanitarian law are held accountable and brought to justice.

我們留意政府將支持獨立機制去調查雙方的侵略行為。緬甸政府必須確保，違反國際人權法而參與大型侵略的人，必須繩之以法。

For the HKCFB, it is hardly to believe the recent reforms in Burma, since the violations in place, these are the reasons why. Despite the positive steps by the military-backed government, many of us are still cautious.

香港爭取緬甸自由聯盟，自這些侵略發生後，實在很難相信近日在緬甸的改革。即使軍政府有正面的行動，我們很多人仍持謹慎態度。

We endorse the international for putting pressure on the government to allow access to humanitarian aid for both national and international organizations to help the internally displaced people initiate a meaningful dialogue with the Kachin Independence Organization and the people of Kachin State to achieve sustainable peace, and to address the issue of equality and democracy for ethnic people.

我們認同國際向政府受壓，以准許國內及國際組織提供人道救援，協助流離失所人士與克欽獨立軍展關有意義的對話，以致克欽邦人民可以達到可持續的和平，及提出少數族群的平等與民主。

We are calling for the international community to act and consider the deteriorating human rights conditions sustained by the Burmese government. It is their responsibility to ensure that these unacceptable acts to stop.

我們呼籲國際公民社會起來行動。考慮到由緬甸政府帶來日益惡劣的違權情況持續發生。這是政府的責任去保障不能接受的行為應該停止。

Together, we will urge Burma’s President and the country’s army to stop the military offenses in Kachin State, to initiate a political dialogue and peace process with the ethnic armed group, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

我們一起呼籲緬甸總統，及該國軍隊停止在克欽邦的軍事侵略，與少數民族武裝組織，即克欽獨立軍，展開政治對話及和平進程。

After one full year of such conflict, it is time for Thein Sein to show his seriousness about change, by ending the offensives, withdrawing troops, stopping the violations, establishing a political dialogue, and a peace process in Kachin state.

類似的衝突發生一整年後，是時候讓登盛總統顯示其對改革的認真，即結束衝突、撤軍、停止侵犯、建立政治對話及和平進程。

If the war from Kachin state continues, this coming year will be difficult for groups and individuals concerned with human rights in Burma to negotiate. Ethnic groups in Burma have been struggling under harsh military rule for more than 50 years; it is time for them to realize their rights and freedom and live with dignity.

如果在克欽邦的戰爭持續，未來一年，對於不同族群及關心緬甸人權問題的人士，將更難談判。緬甸少數族裔已經在軍政府的嚴刑下爭扎了50年，是時候讓他們實現其權利、自由、與尊嚴地生活。

Hong Kong Coalition of free Burma will be monitoring the political reforms until the Burmese government calls for political reform towards democracy.

香港爭取緬甸自由聯盟將繼續監察政治改革，直至緬甸政府呼籲政治改革推向民主。