U.S. deeply concerned over escalating violence in Kachin, Shan States

12 December 2016
U.S. deeply concerned over escalating violence in Kachin, Shan States
Soldiers of the Ta-ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), one of the ethnic rebel groups, in Homain village, Nansam Township, Northern Shan State, Myanmar. Photo: Nyein Chan Naing/EPA

The U.S. Embassy is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Kachin and Shan State and reports of abuses against civilians, the Embassy said in a statement on 12 December.
The statement continues, ‘We continue to call for restraint from all sides and urge immediate, unfettered humanitarian access to all those affected by conflict throughout the country. Continued conflict undermines the trust necessary to achieve a durable peace,and disproportionately affects the lives of innocent civilians and the thousands of IDPs forcedfrom their homes. The U.S. Embassy urges all sides to cease hostilities so that the important effort to achieve peace can move forward.’