KACHIN YOUTH EVOLVE INTO A POLITICAL ENTITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000452 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI SNAR EAID BM SUBJECT: KACHIN YOUTH EVOLVE INTO A POLITICAL ENTITY REF: A. A. RANGOON 00082 ¶B. B. RANGOON 00451 Classified By: APAO KJPenland for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In Burma's northernmost state, diverse political, religious, military, and ceasefire groups struggle to address the needs of the Kachin people, who face extensive discrimination from Burma's ruling military regime (ref A). One group of activists who seem to be breaking out and forming a power base across dividing lines is the All Kachin Youth Union (AKYU). They appear to have taken more initiative than we see elsewhere in Burma, where most tend to defer to elders. END SUMMARY Youth Unimpressed with Present Kachin Leadership -------------- --- ¶2. (C) Politically active youth cut across Kachin society. Many of them are affiliated with the Kachin Baptist Convention. The All Kachin Youth Union was established in August 2002 to help youth address the state's political issues and social ills, including human trafficking and drug abuse, while simultaneously maintaining a low profile. The AKYU also participates in the Kachin National Congress for Democracy and Kachin National Consultative Assembly movements. However, the AKYU youth express unhappiness with the current leadership of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO),noting KIO members enjoy special economic privileges given to them by the regime as a reward for signing a ceasefire in 1995. Kachin youth leader Dau Hkaung expressed concern about the growing relationship between the Burmese military regime and the KIO's military wing, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). ¶3. (C) Dau Hkaung told us that AKYU successfully lobbied to prevent the Director of Shalom Foundation, Rev. Saboi Jum, from becoming chairman of the Kachin Consultative Council (KCC),an organization set up to mediate between infighting Kachin parties and provide support for the social needs of the Kachin people. The KCC has a good reputation among the Kachin, including the AKYU, because its leadership is considered impartial and focuses on the social and political well being of all Kachin. ¶4. (C) Although Rev. Jum played a key role in negotiating cease-fire agreements and other concessions from the ruling regime over ten years ago, Kachin youth questioned the neutrality of Jum and his Shalom Foundation and view them as ineffective in pressing for Kachin rights. The Shalom Foundation, which Rev. Jum established in 2000, seeks to "facilitate a sustainable peace in a positive and constructive way so as to be actively evolved in peace-making and development." Shalom's has proposed "peace committees" to "educate citizens" about voting in a future national referendum. Federalism's Appeal in Kachin State -------------- ¶5. (C) U.S Speaker Alan Tarr from Rutgers University conducted a series of lectures on federalism in Rangoon and Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State (ref B). In Myitkyina, Tarr spoke to "the Myitkyina elders" (Duwa Zau Gaung, Rev. Fr. Gregory Naw Din, Rev. Fr. Patrick Sin Wa Naw, Htek Thing Nan of the Aung Shwe Kaba Company, Rev. Zau Shan and Ja Nan of Shalom Foundation and the Men's Fellowship staff from the Kachin Baptist Convention); the KIA delegate to the National Convention; representatives from Kachin Consultative Assembly Youth, Naung Nan Baptist Seminary, Metta and university lecturers; and youth leaders from the Kachin Baptist Convention. As we had learned during out earlier visit, (ref A) federalism has great appeal for all Kachin. AKYU leader Hkaung said he would encourage youth to study federalism further following Tarr's lectures. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: We were struck by the energy and organization of Kachin youth. Most ethnic groups and political parties in Burma tend to defer to the wisdom of elders, and some senior political leaders reprimand youth for taking initiative. The All Kachin Youth Union appears to have earned the support of a number of Kachin political and religious factions by keeping a safe distance from the military regime and inter-group rivalries within Kachin State. It remains to be seen whether they can maintain this distance as they venture into the political arena. END COMMENT VILLAROSA