The Kachin Wesean Student Association (KWSA) has reaffirmed the unity of the Kachin people, rejecting any efforts to divide or dilute their identity. The KWSA declared, “The Kachin people stand as one. We are a people connected by blood, bound by shared history, and united in our destiny.”
The statement asserted that the Kachin identity cannot be broken by external forces or artificial borders, particularly those created during the colonial era, which split the Kachin people’s lands between India and Myanmar. “Our people were divided without our consent, our lands split between India and Myanmar by colonial powers and perpetuated by oppressive governments,” the KWSA emphasized.
The group expressed their strong stance against attempts to fracture their unity by various entities, including the Government of India, Myanmar’s military dictatorship, or “misguided community organizations.” “Any attempt to sever the Kachin people from our collective unity will face serious repercussions,” the KWSA warned.
The statement also highlighted the distinct identity of the Kachin people, noting that while Kachins in India may be referred to as Singpho, Lisu/Yobin, they remain, at their core, Kachin-Wunpawng. “We are Kachin-Wunpawng in spirit, identity, and resolve,” the KWSA affirmed.
A key part of the message was the call for solidarity with their Kachin brothers and sisters in Myanmar. The KWSA urged all Kachins in India to display the Kachin national flag as a symbol of unity with those resisting the military regime in Myanmar. “The Kachin flag is not just a symbol; it is our identity, our pride, and a hope for the unification we aspire to achieve,” the group declared.
The KWSA also strongly condemned the Government of India’s decision to abolish the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which they claim disrupts the natural connections between Kachin families and communities divided by the border. “Kachins should not need permission from India or Myanmar to visit their own. Our relationships are not dictated by governments; they are forged by centuries of shared culture, language, and bloodlines,” the statement emphasized.
In addressing neighboring communities, particularly the Naga people, the KWSA made a firm appeal for mutual respect. “We make a firm and respectful appeal: refrain from claiming Singphos or any Kachin groups as Nagas,” the statement urged. They stressed that while they value the bond shared with their Naga brothers, Kachin identity must be recognized as distinct and respected. “Forcing Kachins into another identity or claiming them under a different banner is not unity; it is coercion, and it will be resisted.”
In a direct address to organizations like the Naga Hoho, the KWSA firmly stated, “Singphos are Kachins. The Lisu/Yobin are Kachin people, and no external group or organization has the right to redefine or claim them.”
The statement closed with a call for unity and solidarity within the Kachin community, urging strength in the face of external pressure. “The Kachin people are united in heart and spirit. We will continue to fight for a future where all Wunpawng are one, free from the chains of artificial divisions and oppression,” the KWSA declared.
The KWSA reaffirmed the unbreakable bond among the Kachin people, declaring, “We are one people. We are one blood. We are Kachin.”
