Crisis Phase (January 4, 1948-February 4, 1961): Members of the Kachin ethnic group in northeastern Burma began a movement for independence following Burma’s independence from the United Kingdom on January 4, 1948.
Conflict Phase (February 5, 1961-February 24, 1994): The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), was established in opposition to the Burmese government on February 5, 1961. Kachin rebels killed 16 individuals in northern Kachin State on February 23, 1971. KIO leaders, Zau Seng, Zau Tu, and Phungshwi Zau Seng, were assassinated near Tam Ngob on August 6, 1975. Kachin rebels attacked Shwegu in Kachin State on April 15, 1978. Government troops and Kachin rebels clashed in Kachin State on January 31-February 1, 1979. Kachin rebels killed 34 government soldiers near Nalung on March 9, 1979. Burmese government and KIO representatives held negotiations between October 17, 1980 and May 9, 1981. Kachin rebels attacked Singkaling Hkamti in northeast Burma on February 28, 1984, resulting in the deaths of 30 government security personnel. Government troops attacked and captured KIA headquarters in Gauri Bum in western Kachin State on June 2-22, 1984. Government troops launched a military offensive against Kachin rebels in northeast Burma on May 22, 1987, and government troops captured the KIO headquarters in Pa Jau on May 30, 1987. Kachin rebels bombed a school in Momauk on February 12, 1988, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals. Kachin rebels killed 106 government soldiers near Kutkai on December 13, 1988. The government banned the KIO on November 3, 1989. Some 870 Kachin rebels and 290 government soldiers were killed in clashes between March 21, 1991 and March 20, 1992. Government troops captured two Kachin rebel camps in April 1992, resulting in the deaths of 23 rebels and ten government soldiers. Kachin rebels occupied Pangsau and Namyung on June 5-July 2, 1992. Some 130 Kachin rebels and 43 government soldiers were killed in clashes between March 21, 1992 and March 20, 1993. Government and KIA representatives held negotiations mediated by Rev. Saboy Jun, secretary of the Kachin Baptist Mission, in Myitkyina between January 22 and October 2, 1993, when the parties signed a interim ceasefire agreement. Government and Kachin representatives signed a permanent ceasefire agreement in Myitkyina on February 24, 1994. Some 5,000 individuals were killed during the conflict.
Post-Conflict Phase (February 25, 1994-June 8, 2011): In September 2010, the KIO rejected the government’s proposal to integrate the KIA into the Burmese military.
Conflict Phase (June 9, 2011-present): Government troops launched a military offensive against the KIA on June 9, 2011. The UN’s World Food Program (WFP) provided humanitarian assistance (food) to Kachin refugees. The Chinese government hosted the first round of peace talks between Myanmar government officials and KIO representatives in Ruili, Yunnan Province on November 29, 2011. The Chinese government hosted the second round of peace talks between Myanmar government officials and KIO representatives in Ruili, Yunnan Province on January 18-19, 2012. The Chinese government hosted the third round of peace talks between Myanmar government officials led by U Aung Thaung and KIO representatives led by Sumlut Gam in Ruili, Yunnan Province on March 8-10, 2012. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for a cessation of military hostilities on April 30, 2012 and May 17, 2012. Three civilians were killed during government military shelling of the rebel-held town of Laiza on January 14, 2013. The U.S. government condemned the Myanmar government’s airstrikes against ethnic Kachins. China’s foreign ministry called for the continuation of negotiations between representatives of the Myanmar government and Kachin rebels. On January 17, 2013, the Chinese government called for an immediate ceasefire, and the Myanmar government announced a unilateral cessation of military hostilities on January 18, 2013. More than 200 government soldiers were killed in clashes with Kachin rebels in the Lajayang and Laiza areas between November 2012 and January 2013. Government troops fired artillery shells into the town of Laiza on January 14, 2013, resulting in the deaths of three civilians. Government troops resumed military hostilities against ethnic Kachin rebels on January 20, 2013. Myanmar government troops killed three KIA rebels in Hka Ya Bum on January 24, 2013. The Chinese government hosted negotiations between representatives of the government and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Ruili, China on February 4, 2013. Representatives of the Myanmar government and Kachin rebels discussed a seven-point plan facilitated by the UN and China in Myitkyina on May 28-30, 2013. Representatives of the government and Kachin rebels signed a seven-point preliminary peace agreement, not including a secession of military hostilities, on October 10, 2013. The UN called for an immediate ceasefire on November 18, 2013. Government troops attacked a KIA training facility near Laiza on November 19, 2014, resulting in the deaths of 23 Kachin rebels. On January 15, 2015, violence broke out after the KIA kidnapped a state transportation official and three government police officers in Myitkyina. On November 21, 2016, KIA rebels, along with rebels from three other ethnic groups in Myanmar, attacked government military outposts, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals. KIA rebels attacked a government military base in Hpakant township on April 6, 2018, resulting in the deaths of eight government soldiers. KIA rebels attacked three government military bases in the towns of Mogaung and Waingmaw on July 29-30, 2021, resulting in the death of one individual. More than 1,600 individuals have been killed, and some 100,000 individuals have been displaced during the conflict.
[Sources: Al Jazeera, November 29, 2011, March 8, 2012, June 8, 2012, January 7, 2013, January 8, 2013, January 14, 2013, January 18, 2013, February 3, 2013, May 30, 2013, November 18, 2013, November 20, 2014, April 1, 2021, May 3, 2021; Arnold et al., 1991, 226; Asian Tribune, May 20, 2012; British Broadcasting Corporation-BBC, October 19, 2010, June 14, 2011, June 15, 2011, June 18, 2011, December 12, 2011, January 19, 2012, March 8, 2012, March 20, 2012, March 23, 2012, April 2, 2012, December 6, 2012, January 2, 2013, January 14, 2013, January 18, 2013, January 20, 2013, January 21, 2013, January 26, 2013, February 4, 2013, May 30, 2013, October 10, 2013, November 20, 2014, April 28, 2018; Degenhardt, 1988, 33; Facts on File, March 4-10, 1971; Keesing’s Record of World Events, June 1985, October 1988, October 1993; Los Angeles Times (LAT), October 11, 2013; New York Times (NYT), December 6, 2011, January 18, 2013; Reuters, June 20, 2011, January 19, 2012, May 18, 2012, August 23, 2012, January 3, 2013, January 11, 2013, January 17, 2013, January 18, 2013, January 20, 2013, February 2, 2013, February 4, 2013, November 19, 2014, February 2, 2018, April 27, 2018, May 11, 2018, May 3, 2021; Voice of America, May 31, 2013.]