Talk:Kachin/Leaders/George Zunwa

Mr Maran Brang Seng
Born in 1930 in Hpakan, Kachin State. Educated in Kachin Baptist School, Myitkyina; entered Rangoon University in 1952 and obtained a BA and a BEd in 1955. Burma's delegate to the YMCA to Singapore in 1957; headmaster of Myitkyina Baptist school 1957-60 and its principle 1961-63. Went underground with Kachin Independence Organization in 1963. Led the first Kachin rebel delegation to China in 1967. Chairman of KIO since 1975. Made peace with the Communist Party of Burma in 1976 and led the delegation of National Democratic Front to the CPB's Panghsang headquarters in March 1986. Left Kachin State in late 1986 to travel abroad. Become vice chairman of Democratic Alliance of Burma on 18 November 1988 and was attached to its headquarter at Manerplaw on the Thai-Burma border until KIO made peace with Rangoon in April 1993. Suffered a stroke on 21 October 1993 in Kunming,Yunnan ,died on August 8 1994.

Maran Brang Seng for Kachin People
Maran Brang Seng, the leader among the Kachin people for most of the last thirty years when died on 08 August 1994 at the time he was Chairman of Kachin Independent Organization Central Committee (KIOCC) and president of Kachin Independent Council (KIC), the nation has suffered an irreparable loss and is deprived of a man of great eminence and scholarly persuasion and above all an excellent human being. He was a special person in all aspects. His commitment in adhering the peace-making process is due. He has unveiled a vision of Kachin people from the darkness to the light. His service to the nation will be remembered for eminent Freedom Moment. He was one of the best Champion of Civil liberties and democratic rights. He was a true patriot. After all he led his people during turbulence and tragedy in a period that was unmatched in Kachin History.

In 1987, he met Former Prime Ministers, Mr Rajiv Gandhi and Mr Shandra Shekar to get a political support from the neighbouring country but Indian government neglects to their gratitude for Mr Brang Seng's cooperation towards solving North-East problem. It was Brang Seng and his organization who saved North-East India as the part of it - the continent would have been a separate country where Indian troops battled for about two months and lost more than 700 Indian commandos in Rhino and Golden Star operations.

Kachins always had ancient homeland. They have ability to integrate and mutually accommodate, both politically and culturally, is age-old. What post Independence Burma denied them was the political self-determination which they have fully enjoyed through World War II.

Lack of self-determination rights led to block the progress in Kachin State and the call for reform went out. Brang Seng was one of the leaders of such reform. When the army of the Union of Burma, the Union's pressumed protector, turned instead into usurper of citizen's freedom and rights, military engagement became inevitable.

Through it all, Brang Seng did not allow anything to distract him from the struggle that he led for political reform. Historians will find the truth about the nation and excellency of this man.