Myitkyina

I am sure the KIO/KIA aren't saints, But they've a right to be pissed off seeing that the Hydropower plants being built will send power to China and income to Nayipidaw.
As far as boarding a flight up to myitkyina is concerned, my take is pure speculation. Like I said Good Luck.
I went up there earlier this year, glad I did.
Not sure however that they'll let you take a boat to Sinbo as there was fighting there.
And the road to Bhamo has seen action so...you might have to fly up there AND back!

#10

certainly burmats... chances are you will not be able to get to bhamo or anywhere else in kachin state expect myitkyina.

as said before i was in myitkyina for four weeks at the peak of the fights and I know two other foreigners who have also been in myitkyina before and after me (but during the fights obviously) ... so myitkyina remains open for foreigners.

Agree they have a right to be pissed off...and its sickening to see what the central government does to the natural ressources of Kachin-State but the thing is that this war doesnt help anyone.

It cant be won by the KIA and it also cant be won by the Tatmadaw. So I hope the KIA will agree to a new peace agreement soon, problem is just that they wont give up any control over natural ressources and the central government wont grant Kachin-State more then just superficial rights.

Considering the overall situation I dont really figure out how groups like the KIO think they are going to get any rights, the government is ruling all of the country in a totalitarian way and the only way for them to get real independence is to found a new totally independend Kachin-state that is excluded from the Union of Myanmar, and that is a surreal thought considering the amount of Bamar, Shan, Chinese, Naga, Indians, Pakistani, Nepalese etc living there (especially in Myitkyina) and considering the overall economic situation. (because of the chinese influence).

http://www.kachinnews.com/news/1986-burmese-army-to-start-full-scale-offensive-against-kachin-minority.html

Seems like op´s chances of travelling around kachin state are not improving... according to Kachin News and Irrawaddy the Tatmadaw is now going to start a full-scale offensive against Laiza including war ships, airplanes etc.

Sickens me ... All the innocent soldiers that are going to die because of power and influence hungry leaders and all the refugees that are going to be in major trouble as international aid is not there and the chinese dont let them in. But nobody in the west is even going to care about what is going on there not surprising as they are busy listening to ASSK´s bla bla about freedom not realising that ethnic conflicts are Myanmar´s biggest problem at the moment. What about she encourages some people to offer aid to the Kachin refugees or awake some people in the west and create some negative news about China not helping the refugees?

I guess due to their KIA affiliation the KIO wasn't allowed to field candidates during election so they are locked out of the political process, They don't have much of an alternative to taking up arms. I'm guessing they want to pressure the Chinese into brokering a peace deal since it's in their best interest to have a stable kachin region . A lot of resources go into China from there and chinese products also enter the country from in the region.

Thanks for the information, the fighting seems to be getting worse -- what is a good source for checking travel restrictions? Myanmar embassy seems not to up date. look like a last minute change in itinerary.

head to Mandalay . hop on a flight to Kaleymyo then drift down the Chindwin river back to Monywa?