- Title: THAILAND: Ethnic minorities rally against alleged war crimes in Myanmar
- Date: 11th January 2013
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (JANUARY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS AND POLICE ON THE STREET EXTERIOR OF THE MYANMAR EMBASSY PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS MAN SHOUTING TO CROWD CALLING FOR POLITICAL DISCUSSION MORE OF MAN SHOUTING MAN HOLDING KACHIN STATE FLAG SIGN READING "STOP GENOCIDE AGAINST KACHIN" PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS AND SIGNS SIGN READING "INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST INTERVENE TO END ATROCITIES BY THEIN SEIN" MORE OF PROTESTERS ALONG THE STREET PROTESTER PROTESTERS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) MEMBER OF OVERSEAS NATIONAL STUDENTS' ORGANIZATION OF BURMA THAN PAE, SAYING: "There are innocent kids and adults that are suffering. In addition, both soldiers from the government military and the Kachin, we want the war to stop, that's what we're asking for." THAN PAE GIVING LETTER TO EMBASSY STAFF PICTURE OF THEIN SEIN (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) MEMBER OF OVERSEAS NATIONAL STUDENTS' ORGANIZATION OF BURMA THAN PAE, SAYING: "Another thing we want to do is, we're giving a letter to Thein Sein. We hope it will reach him through the embassy. We believe the staff at the embassy will send the letter to Naypyitaw." PROTESTER POLICE OFFICERS STANDING OUTSIDE THE MYANMAR EMBASSY VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS STANDING WITH SIGNS PROTESTER SHOUTING PROTESTER PUMPING FIST IN THE AIR MORE OF PROTESTERS
- Embargoed: 26th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Crime
- Reuters ID: LVADY6CGFKI75QU8RXTEY3SG67SR
- Story Text: A group of Kachin people living in Thailand demonstrated in front of the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok on Friday (January 11) to protest against alleged war crimes back home.
The rally, organised by the Overseas National Students' Organisation of Burma (ONSOB), comes just a week after unprecedented aerial attacks on ethnic Kachin rebels in northern Myanmar by the government's military.
Rebel sources had reported aerial bombings, shelling and even the use of chemical weapons since December 28 after the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) ignored an ultimatum to stop blocking an army supply route in the hilly, resource-rich state where more than 50,000 people have been displaced.
"There are innocent kids and adults that are suffering. In addition, both soldiers from the government military and the Kachin, we want the war to stop, that's what we're asking for," said Than Pae, a member of ONSOB.
Members of ONSOB drafted a letter for the Myanmar President Thein Sein asking him to put a stop to the war and humanitarian crisis in Kachin State.
"Another thing we want to do is, we're giving a letter to Thein Sein. We hope it will reach him through the embassy. We believe the staff at the embassy will send the letter to Naypyitaw (capital of Myanmar)," said Than Pae.
The United Nations voiced concern over the recent attacks. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked Myanmar's government to "desist from any action that could endanger the lives of civilians" and reiterated demands for humanitarian aid groups to be granted access.
President Thein Sein's quasi-civilian administration insists it wants a ceasefire and political dialogue.
It says troops have acted only in self-defense and denied having plans to seize the KIA's stronghold. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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