Joint Statement on the 15th Anniversary of The Resumed War in the Kachin Region

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the resumption of conflict between the military junta and the Kachin Independence Army on June 9, 2011. Drastically intensified by the 2021 coup, this war has caused immense suffering. While official UNHCR figures report over 244,500 people displaced in Kachin State as of June 2026, the actual number is believed to be significantly higher.

The military junta’s indiscriminate attacks, atrocities, and forced conscription drive continuous displacement, forcing many to flee Myanmar. Its financial weaponization, internet shutdowns, and transport blockades—including the closure of Myitkyina airport—isolate communities in Kachin and cause critical shortages in food, healthcare, and education, with devastating impacts on children, women, and people with disabilities. Recent international funding cuts further exacerbate these urgent needs.

Amidst the humanitarian crisis, the junta is aggressively reviving the Myitsone Dam project—a project previously suspended due to massive public opposition. Furthermore, the dam project raises grave safety concerns for all of Myanmar. The Irrawaddy River is the nation’s lifeblood, supporting communities from the conflict-ridden northern Kachin highlands through the earthquake-stricken central zone to the fertile southern delta.

We affirm our unwavering solidarity with every community in Kachin and across Myanmar enduring the devastation of the ongoing war. We call on the international community to prioritize Myanmar’s humanitarian needs by increasing funding for displaced populations, supporting local actors, and ensuring aid reaches resistance-controlled areas.

Prioritize civilian protection by employing all necessary diplomatic measures to immediately halt atrocities and indiscriminate attacks, particularly airstrikes. We urge support for the rights and dignity of all civilians, especially children, women, and persons with disabilities, and protection for those seeking refuge in the international community. Furthermore, we must hold perpetrators accountable to bring justice for victims, prevent future atrocities and end impunity.

Reviving the Myitsone dam project is ill-timed, as it further divides stakeholders and risks escalating the armed conflict. This project must be stopped permanently to prevent devastating and catastrophic national disasters in the future.

The Kachin conflict has spanned over six decades. Despite these challenges, the community remains resilient and hopeful for a peaceful future. Myanmar’s history demonstrates that enduring stability and genuine solutions cannot be achieved under a dictatorship. We ask for continued global solidarity in seeking durable solutions based on the hard-won lessons of the past.

This statement is endorsed by 129 Civil Society Organizations.
Contact: June9Statement@protonmail.com

Download this statement (English I Myanmar)