This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000452 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI SNAR EAID BM
SUBJECT: KACHIN YOUTH EVOLVE INTO A POLITICAL ENTITY 
 
REF: A. A. RANGOON 00082 
     ¶B. B. RANGOON 00451 
 
Classified By: APAO KJPenland for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: In Burma's northernmost state, diverse 
political, religious, military, and ceasefire groups struggle 
to address the needs of the Kachin people, who face extensive 
discrimination from Burma's ruling military regime (ref A). 
One group of activists who seem to be breaking out and 
forming a power base across dividing lines is the All Kachin 
Youth Union (AKYU).  They appear to have taken more 
initiative than we see elsewhere in Burma, where most tend to 
defer to elders.  END SUMMARY 
 
Youth Unimpressed with Present Kachin Leadership 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
¶2.  (C) Politically active youth cut across Kachin society. 
Many of them are affiliated with the Kachin Baptist 
Convention.  The All Kachin Youth Union was established in 
August 2002 to help youth address the state's political 
issues and social ills, including human trafficking and drug 
abuse, while simultaneously maintaining a low profile.  The 
AKYU also participates in the Kachin National Congress for 
Democracy and Kachin National Consultative Assembly 
movements.  However, the AKYU youth express unhappiness with 
the current leadership of the Kachin Independence 
Organization (KIO), noting KIO members enjoy special economic 
privileges given to them by the regime as a reward for 
signing a ceasefire in 1995.  Kachin youth leader Dau Hkaung 
expressed concern about the growing relationship between the 
Burmese military regime and the KIO's military wing, the 
Kachin Independence Army (KIA). 
 
¶3.  (C) Dau Hkaung told us that AKYU successfully lobbied to 
prevent the Director of Shalom Foundation, Rev. Saboi Jum, 
from becoming chairman of the Kachin Consultative Council 
(KCC), an organization set up to mediate between infighting 
Kachin parties and provide support for the social needs of 
the Kachin people.  The KCC has a good reputation among the 
Kachin, including the AKYU, because its leadership is 
considered impartial and focuses on the social and political 
well being of all Kachin. 
 
¶4.  (C) Although Rev. Jum played a key role in negotiating 
cease-fire agreements and other concessions from the ruling 
regime over ten years ago, Kachin youth questioned the 
neutrality of Jum and his Shalom Foundation and view them as 
ineffective in pressing for Kachin rights.  The Shalom 
Foundation, which Rev. Jum established in 2000, seeks to 
"facilitate a sustainable peace in a positive and 
constructive way so as to be actively evolved in peace-making 
and development." Shalom's has proposed "peace committees" to 
"educate citizens" about voting in a future national 
referendum. 
 
Federalism's Appeal in Kachin State 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) U.S Speaker Alan Tarr from Rutgers University 
conducted a series of lectures on federalism in Rangoon and 
Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State (ref B).  In 
Myitkyina, Tarr spoke to "the Myitkyina elders" (Duwa Zau 
Gaung, Rev. Fr. Gregory Naw Din, Rev. Fr. Patrick Sin Wa Naw, 
Htek Thing Nan of the Aung Shwe Kaba Company, Rev. Zau Shan 
and Ja Nan of Shalom Foundation and the Men's Fellowship 
staff from the Kachin Baptist Convention); the KIA delegate 
to the National Convention; representatives from Kachin 
Consultative Assembly Youth, Naung Nan Baptist Seminary, 
Metta and university lecturers; and youth leaders from the 
Kachin Baptist Convention.  As we had learned during out 
earlier visit, (ref A) federalism has great appeal for all 
Kachin.  AKYU leader Hkaung said he would encourage youth to 
study federalism further following Tarr's lectures. 
 
¶6.  (C) COMMENT: We were struck by the energy and 
organization of Kachin youth.  Most ethnic groups and 
political parties in Burma tend to defer to the wisdom of 
elders, and some senior political leaders reprimand youth for 
taking initiative.  The All Kachin Youth Union appears to 
have earned the support of a number of Kachin political and 
religious factions by keeping a safe distance from the 
military regime and inter-group rivalries within Kachin 
State.  It remains to be seen whether they can maintain this 
distance as they venture into the political arena.  END 
COMMENT 
VILLAROSA