"International Educational Development, Inc. (IED) and the Association of Humanitarian Lawyers (AHL) have monitored the situation in Myanm ar for 23 years.1 We have submitted written statements and made oral ones at many sessions and have been twice invited by the United States Congress to present testimony at hearings. In our statement for the UN Human Rights Council?s 22nd session, we called attention to the ethnic conflict between the national government and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) which had extended well beyond the time of the national government?s assurances to the international community that a lasting peace was a priority and surely well at hand. In spite of a visible peace agreement between the gove rnment and the KIA in late May, in recent days alleged government-backed militias have attacked KIA installations. According to The Irrawaddy, a government-backed militia called the Kachin Bor der Guard Force attacked Kachin bases in two towns in the Pangwa region.2 San Aung of the KIA noted, ?The Kachin BGF is a militia that is controlled by the government?s armed forces. They have to listen to orders from the government?s force. We think without support from the government?s armed forces, they would not have dare d to fight the KIA...".....Written NGO statement to the 24th Session of UN Human Rights Council.