• Burmese
Thursday, December 7, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
25 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

US Limits Criticism after Laiza Shelling

by Lalit K Jha
January 15, 2013
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
US Limits Criticism after Laiza Shelling

A relative holds the hand of the mortally-wounded Malang Yaw

3.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

WASHINGTON—The US government has stopped short of criticizing the Burmese government over its handling of the conflict with Kachin rebels in northern Burma, despite appeals by US Kachin groups and a Burmese military attack on Kachin civilians on Monday.

Instead, US officials emphasized the need for the Kachin to open political dialogue with the government in the same way that other ethnic “separatist areas” have done.

RelatedPosts

Myanmar Junta Asks China to Pressure Brotherhood Alliance to End Offensive

Myanmar Junta Asks China to Pressure Brotherhood Alliance to End Offensive

December 7, 2023
1.3k
UN Calls for Urgent Action to Stop Arms Flow to Myanmar Junta as Civilian Casualties Soar

UN Calls for Urgent Action to Stop Arms Flow to Myanmar Junta as Civilian Casualties Soar

December 7, 2023
768
Kawkareik Civilians Suffer in Myanmar Junta Bombardments

Kawkareik Civilians Suffer in Myanmar Junta Bombardments

December 7, 2023
523

Last week, 23 US Kachin organizations sent an open letter to President Obama asking him to condemn the Burmese military’s use of airpower against the Kachin rebels, to reinstate US sanctions against the Burmese government, and to help guarantee the safety of thousands of displaced Kachin civilians.

The groups demonstrated at the US State Department on Saturday to highlight their demands.

US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a press briefing on Monday however, that the US would not reinstate sanctions in order to address the Kachin conflict.

“I don’t have any changes to US policy to announce,” she said, adding that the lifting of the sanctions earlier this year “was conditional on continued progress” by the Burmese government towards democracy and respect for human rights.

Fighting in Kachin State has intensified since December and the Burmese army has been launching airstrikes on Kachin rebel positions in an effort to conquer Laiza valley, where the rebel headquarters is located and where some 35,000 Kachin civilians are sheltering.

The Kachin rebels are demanding greater autonomy, basic rights and amendments of the military-drafted 2008 Constitution.

On Monday, reporters saw two artillery strikes by the Burmese army land in the center of Laiza. Three civilians, including a teenager, were killed, while four others were seriously injured.

Asked if the escalating Kachin conflict represented a step backward for the Burmese government Nuland said, “there’s been violence on and off in Kachin for a very, very long time.”

The State Department did not directly address Monday’s artillery strike by the Burmese army.

Instead Nuland said, “[I]n a number of these other separatist [ethnic] areas, the Government of Burma has had success in getting into a dialogue about grievances and working things out politically. That’s what we want to see in Kachin as well,” she said.

She added that the US was urging both parties to open political dialogue and had asked the Burmese government to stop blocking UN access to displaced Kachin civilians.

Britain on Monday expressed its concern about the Kachin conflict and the Burmese army’s use of heavy firepower near Laiza in strong terms.

“The British Government is deeply concerned by reports emerging from Kachin State of an escalation in hostilities, including the use of Burmese military helicopters and aircraft against Kachin Independence Army positions in areas around the state capital and Laiza,” Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt told British Parliament.

“These tactics represent a marked escalation, and pose a significant risk of civilian casualties,” he said, adding that, “The situation in Kachin is increasingly serious and could present a threat to wider reforms.”

Burt said Britain was encouraged by the recent political reforms under President Thein Sein but he added that “progress on ethnic reconciliation must remain the highest priority.”

He urged both sides open negotiations and for the Burmese government to allow UN access to the displaced Kachin.

Your Thoughts …
Previous Post

Karenni Refugees Want to Go Home But ‘Don’t Trust the Government’

Next Post

China: Chinese Workers Abducted in Sudan’s Darfur

Lalit K Jha

Lalit K Jha

Similar Picks:

Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

November 28, 2023
79.5k
Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

November 29, 2023
71.8k
Depleted Myanmar Military Urges Deserters to Return to Barracks

Depleted Myanmar Military Urges Deserters to Return to Barracks

December 4, 2023
49.8k
Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

November 27, 2023
30.3k
Brotherhood Alliance Marching Towards Capital of Myanmar’s Kokang Region

Brotherhood Alliance Marching Towards Capital of Myanmar’s Kokang Region

November 25, 2023
27.3k
General Close to Myanmar Junta Boss Placed Under House Arrest, Interrogated for Corruption

General Close to Myanmar Junta Boss Placed Under House Arrest, Interrogated for Corruption

September 14, 2023
24.4k
Load More
Next Post

China: Chinese Workers Abducted in Sudan's Darfur

Burma to Borrow $900 Million in FY 2013: Report

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar Regime Stops Fuel Supplies to Yangon Factories

Myanmar Regime Stops Fuel Supplies to Yangon Factories

3 days ago
8.8k
As Myanmar’s Junta Loses Control, Its Coup Leader Ratchets Up His Blame Game

As Myanmar’s Junta Loses Control, Its Coup Leader Ratchets Up His Blame Game

6 days ago
8.2k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Boss Tries to Drive Wedge Between Ethnic Armies, Civilians

    Myanmar Junta Boss Tries to Drive Wedge Between Ethnic Armies, Civilians

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Uses Chemical Warfare: Arakan Army

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Kyat Depreciates Further After Myanmar Central Bank Abandons Dollar Forex Rate

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Over 300 Civilians Reportedly Killed as Retreating Myanmar Military Ups Atrocities

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Arakan Army Declares Seizure of Major Myanmar Junta Base

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.