Myanmar’s Kachin activists mark 2nd anniversary of ethnic civil war

Activists wearing T-shirt with the flag of Kachin Independence Army (KIA), march during a ceremony to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the fighting between Myanmar government troops and KIA, in Yangon, Myanmar Sunday, June 9, 2013. The fighting began June 9, 2011 when government troops allegedly shelled a Kachin base in a bid to force the rebel fighters from a strategic region where China is constructing major hydropower plants. The banner reads “May peace prevail and free from fighting in Myanmar.” <AP Photo>

A peace activist with painted face symbolizing a victim of the civil war between the Ethnic Kachin fighters and Myanmar government security forces participates in a peace march marking the second anniversary of the resumption of the fighting between Kachin rebels and government forces in Myanmar’s northern Kachin state, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, June 9, 2013. The 17-year old ceasefire broke down in northern Kachin estate in June 2011, displacing thousands, injuring and killing hundreds more. <AP Photo/NEWSis/Gemunu Amarasinghe>

Peace activists with painted faces symbolizing the victims of the civil war between the Ethnic Kachin fighters and Myanmar government security forces participate in a peace march marking the second anniversary of the resumption of the fighting between Kachin rebels and government forces in Myanmar’s northern Kachin state, in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, June 9, 2013. <AP Photo/NEWSis/Gemunu Amarasinghe>