Major General Gun Maw, Deputy Chair-1 of the Kachin Independence Council (KIC), said at a public meeting of the Kachin community in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 13 April that many educated youth are needed to rebuild the areas brought under their control by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and strengthen their administration.
The offensive by the KIA and its allied forces, which began on 7 March, has gradually intensified for more than a month. During the offensive, the KIA has captured some 70 military camps, including key strategic bases that the junta had occupied for decades, as well as the border trading town of Lwelgel.
In light of this situation, KIC Deputy Chair-1 Maj-Gen Gun Maw called on young people to participate in the tasks of rebuilding and administering the seized areas.
In this Vox Pop, Kachin News Group (KNG) has gathered voices from some Kachin youths and political analysts to find out how they see the Maj-Gen Gun Maw’s call and how the Kachin youths should contribute to the revolution.
A young Kachin political activist from Myitkyina –
“I’d like to say openly that the achievements we have made could be reversed if youth participation decreases. We have tried many times in the past but it hasn’t yielded any significant results. But Myanmar’s politics is changing now, so everyone should participate. Even if you flee abroad, you should understand how far you can actually flee. Instead of just focusing on going abroad, we can win without having to fight if everyone unites and participates. I want young people to know that once you are over 30, you can’t be as free-spirited as when you were young. That’s why I urge everyone to get involved while you still have the energy to do so.”
A young Kachin woman studying abroad –
“We can see that many of the junta’s military camps have now been seized. I also think that youth participation is crucial. If the youth don’t participate, this revolution will have a hard time moving forward. Only the youth can pass it on to the next generation. They can participate in any way they are capable of – as fighters, in the medical field or in education. The youth can get involved in the areas that interest them. I also urge people abroad not to be discouraged and to contribute wherever they can.”
A female Kachin youth activist from Myitkyina –
“I see this as a very important time for the youth. Some have go to the frontlines; those in the cities must do their respective jobs well so that we are prepared when the time comes to rebuild the nation. The youth include soldiers, teachers, medical personnel, engineers – all must contribute. If participation wanes, I fear that we will not fully achieve our goals and will face more difficulties. That’s why I would like to urge the youth to participate in any way they can”
A politically active young Kachin man studying abroad –
“From the news, we learn that the resistance forces have captured many of the junta’s military camps. So I believe that our victory is now in sight. The role of young people has also become very important. Young people are more familiar with social media and have modern knowledge. In the face of the junta’s airstrikes, they can provide us with knowledge on how to protect ourselves. They can contribute to the reconstruction of the villages in areas such as healthcare and education.”
A Kachin political analyst –
“At the moment, the KIA has taken control of many parts of our state, like 60%. They haven’t been able to take the major towns yet because the junta is still defending them. But that doesn’t mean that the military council has total control over these areas. So the young people have to think about which areas they can participate in and how. Those who are interested in fighting can join the armed resistance, others can get involved in areas such as healthcare, education and so on. If the youth don’t participate, we’ll face a weaker future and miss out on shaping our own destiny. Those in leadership roles should also pave the way for greater youth participation. The more they participate, the faster the progress will be”
Sent by KNG.