A Kachin leader, who was initially blocked by the Burma Army after returning from Laiza was allowed to pass through the checkpoint after clearing the matter with the government and army leaders.
Rev Dr. Hkalam Samson, the leader of Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) travels to Laiza a lot as part of his work helping Kachin internally displaced persons (IDPs).
As also the leader of Kachin Humanitarian Concern Committee (KHCC) he works closely with the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and Kachin State government.
On a July 16 trip to the KIO headquarters, he forgot to report to the Burma Army before returning to Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State. The army temporarily prevented him from crossing the Nam San Yang checkpoint.
“I informed Maj-Gen Teza Kyaw, who is the commander of Burma Army’s Northern Military Region, of the situation. I also informed the Kachin State government and explained the problem,” Hkalam Samson told KNG.
Eventually, the Burma Army allowed him to continue his journey to Myitkyina.
“I used to report to the Burma Army and the government before I traveled. But I was so busy this time and didn’t report my trip to Laiza, thinking I’d do it after returning.”
Before the incident at the checkpoint, Hkalam Samson and other members of KHCC met with the minister of Social, Relief, and Resettlement in Naypyitaw for the third time to discuss the resettlement of Kachin IDPs.
When Hkalam Samson returned from Laiza this Tuesday (July 21), he was able to pass through the army checkpoint without an issue. “Now everything’s fine,” he explained.
The Nam San Yang checkpoint is located on the road between Myitkyina and Bhamo.
