About two weeks ago I'd mentioned here that the Kachin Independence Organization had held an emergency meeting amid rumors that the Burmese army was preparing to seize parts of the Kachin liberated areas from the KIO. There has been no confirmation that the emergency meeting was in fact related to the rumors, or to the build-up of Burmese troops near Laiza which had sparked the rumors, but there have been a few developments in the situation since then.

The KIO meeting resulted in the formation of a "political working committee to find solutions to existing problems between the junta and ceasefire or peace groups." (from the DVB). There was also speculation that this committee was formed as a means of involving the younger generation of Kachins who've become disillusioned with KIO leadership - but again, there's no confirmation of the veracity of this claim. KIO leadership say simply that it is meant to be a "committee which could always advise the KIO Central with the best available means when it comes to dealing with current political situation in Burma."   more »

The sequence of events happening over the last few months has made it apparent that the Burmese junta is up to something. From stepping up their counterinsurgencies to denouncing the NLD and Daw Suu Kyi as irrelevant, it seems they are taking steps to consolidate and/or extend their power over the beleugered nation. It also seems that they are still suffering from the delusion that people can't see through their thinly veiled propaganda and lies, but knowing they are full of shite is cold comfort when witnessing bits of their evil plan for dominion slowly roll forth.   more »