Our Kith and Kin Kachin

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

We Bamar call them Kachin
It means the “dancing Kith and Kin.”
They live in Burma’s northern region
They are our latest cousins.

(Manaw Dance)

They call them selves Ginphaw
Sometimes spelled as Jinghpaw
Latest arrivals of all Burmese tribes
They are Tibeto-Burman just arrived.

(Gingphaw Beauties)

Their arrival was first noticed in the 18th century
They were entering and encroaching in Shan territories
They occupied the hills and hillocks of Northern Burma
They began to form village tracts and tribal areas there.

Then their Chiefs were called Duwas
They swore oath of allegiance to Burma
But they governed with full autonomy at liberty
They only gave gifts and recruited men for royal armies.

(General Aung San and Kachin Girls in Myitkyina)

Sama Duwa had been most loyal to Burmese kings
He fought the British bravely until he died in action
His son Sama Duwa Sinwa Nawng was like him
He denounced British Stevenson’s plan for Hill Regions
He joined General Aung San in Panglong Treaty signing
It paved Shan and Chin leaders to agree and sign with him.

He renounced the States’ right of secession after ten years
He was active in the AFPFL Government as minister
He built unity and amity between Bamar and other races
He was slated to be elected President of the Union in place
That General Ne Win prevented by staging a coup in 1962
It marked the disintegration of Burma’s central rule.

(Kachin State Map)

Kachin were awarded for their loyalty
Bhamo and Myitkyina were ceded to its territory
Both towns were mostly inhabited by Bamar majority
They were given with the hope of Union’s perpetuity.

I remember a Kachin of fame
Mye Tong Naw was his name
He won Marathons in SEA games
He made Burma proud again and again!

Many Kachin joined the Burma Army
They are brave soldiers and loyal levies
They prevented the Union from collapsing
Except Naw Seng who revolted by instigation.

He was rampart in Irrawaddy Delta Region
Then, allied with KNDO military wing
Before retreating into a neighboring country
He reentered and died mysteriously in 1970s.

Many Kachin took up arms against central government
Divided into groups based on race, ideology and foment
Men, materials and morals have been spuriously spent
As a well-wisher, I do not wish to make any comment.

I know there was Phimaw, Gawlan and Kamphan incident

Kachin people were seething with indignation and discontent

U Nu had agreed to cede to China during Borders' Agreement

He also decalred Buddhism as State Religion in parliament.

(Indawgyi Pagoda)

Kachin are famous for fighting and armed combat
They had taken part in regular and guerilla war tact
Merills Marauders in WW II had many Kachin soldiers
British also had the Kachin in the army as rangers.

Kachin veterans of the British Army joined Aung San’s army
Brigadier Tan Gyi and Colonel Khun Nawn led the way early
The latter was Commandant of Defence Services Academy
It trained most of the commanders of current Burma Army.

Actually Kachin State is a beautiful area
The Irrawaddy River begins within her
Maykha and Maylikha join at Myitson
It’s one of the loveliest places to sojourn.

(Myit Son, the Irrawaddy Confluence)

Flowers and fauna are fanciful and plentiful
Many new species are found on study anew
Orchids, wild life and games abound to book
Many eco-tours are arranged for people to look.

(The Khkaborazi Mountain Range)

Khakaborazi Mount is covered with snow
People may ski and scout to see its soul
Lake Indawgyi is the biggest lake in Burma
Revelers may roam and row in it at pleasure.

(Indawgi Lake, biggest in Burma)

Kachin State is rich with natural resources
Teak, wild life and jade contribute the most
Many people toy with them to poach
It can make or break a person at high cost.

(Burma's Imperial Jade)

Burma Jade is famous the world over
It’s valued by all the gem lovers
You can sell it to China, Europe and America
A good jade piece fetches thousands of dollars
I once enquired a jade ring in Yunnan
The seller demanded thirty thousand Yuans!

(Workers in Jade Mine, Phakant)

Phakant Mine is rich in jade
People come in constantly to stake
Some are lucky to have a good take
Most perish from malaria and AIDS.

(Recent Manaw Dance in Myitkyina, Kachin State)

Manaw Dance is famous and fun
Men and women dance and run
Around a pole and in tandem
Dancers sing and swirl in sand.

(Sir Hubert Rance and General Aung San)

General Aung San joined in Manaw Dance
He was Deputy to Governor Sir Hubert Rance
He was building national unity as common stance
To demand for independence of whole Burma at once;
He and Kachin liked each other at a glance
If he had not succumbed to assassins later
Kachin armed revolt may not have occurred
Union of Burma would be in a different phase
We may be enjoining peace and prosperity wave!

Dr Maung Maung Nyo
10.11.2008 (original)