Chins pray, raise fund for Kachin victims of conflicts
23 January 2013: Chin communities and churches joined in prayer services and raising fund to help victims of military attacks against KIA (Kachin Independence Army) by Burma Army.
More than 250 Chin Christians turned up alongside dozens of Kachins to pray for peace in Burma’s northern state in a worship service held at the Chin Evangelical Baptist Church in Indianapolis, USA last Sunday.
Leaders from different organizations and churches including members of the Chin National Front, Falam Baptist Church, and Zophei Christian Church got together with the congregation at the night event.
A collection of nearly 5,000 US dollars was made from the offering and other donations from churches and groups, according to Salai Cung Cung from Indianapolis.
The Chin community in Indianapolis has agreed to form a committee early next month that will take responsibility for raising fund toward providing humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected people in Kachin State.
Moreover, a Chin committee for Kachin relief assistance set up in Washington DC last Sunday called for making financial contributions, which will be transferred to the US Kachin Alliance, an organization directly working with local communities to help Kachin IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons).
On another occasion, Chin refugees in Delhi, India last Saturday participated in a protest against ongoing military offensive, calling on Burma’s Tatmadaw to immediately stop fighting in the ethnic Kachin State.
The event, organized by the Burmese pro-democracy movement in India, condemned any violence and hostility against the civilians.
More than 100,000 civilians have been displaced from their native homes with many being injured and killed since the start of the conflict in mid-2011, according to reports.
Despite an official announcement of ceasefire on Friday, Burma’s government continues attacks on the Kachin base near Laiza, the headquarters of KIO/KIA near the Chinese border.
Van Biak Thang
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