Angelina Jolie visits Kachin camps
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UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) special envoy Angelina Jolie yesterday visited the refugee camps in Kachin State.
Her delegation arrived by a private charter plane at Myitkyina airport and was greeted by the Kachin State Chief Minister La John Ngan Hsai.
The Hollywood star arrived in Myanmar on July 29, after receiving an invitation from Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. On the day of arrival, she went to Nay Pyi Taw, meeting key figures including President Thein Sein and Union Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann.
A Kachin State government spokesperson said: “She talked with the chief minister for half an hour. She was told to go as freely as she liked. Their group has their own arrangement so I don’t know where she will go. They didn’t talk about what kind of aid they will provide.”
She visited the Kachin Baptist camp in Jan Mai Kawng ward in Myitkyina and spoke to residents about their difficulties and needs.
An 80-year-old woman said: “She asked a lot of questions about what we are doing, what we need and how many families are there. I knew she was a foreigner but I didn’t know who she was. I didn’t know what to say to her.”
The delegation also visited Saint Joseph camp which caught fire last year.
She left Myitkyina after meeting social organisations.
The movie star had to cancel her visit to Rakhine State due to flooding and the approaching storm, according to the state government.
According to a statement issued by the British Embassy, Jolie would be in Myanmar for four days ''to learn more about the situation in the country and encourage efforts to build a peaceful and inclusive future for all its people".
She would “carry out engagements in her capacity as co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, and as UNHCR special envoy will carry out field visits to displaced people in Burma’s conflict-affected states”, the press release said.
“She will meet people who are working on human rights and interfaith relations, and groups carrying out projects to promote women’s rights, voter education and participation ahead of the [November 8] elections.”
The initiative was co-founded by Jolie and the then British foreign secretary William Hague.
According to the Global New Light of Myanmar, the president and Jolie discussed human rights, women’s affairs and the prevention of sexual violence against women in conflicts.
According to Thura Shwe Mann’s Facebook page, they spoke about the conflict with ethnic armed groups, poverty, the weakness of the rule of law and how to protect the rights of women and children in border areas.
They also discussed the need for cooperation between the public and social and governmental organisations.
Thura Shwe Mann told her that such tasks were more effective when undertaken by celebrities.
"I am looking forward to meeting with many people including women's groups, civil society organisations, displaced people and youths, to learn firsthand from them about their concerns and hopes for the future of their country," Jolie told People magazine.
"With elections on the horizon in November, it is an important moment for people to exercise their democratic rights and help to address the fundamental issues critical to a peaceful future.”
Last year, Jolie visited refugee camps on the Thai border.
Jolie is scheduled to meet Aung San Suu Kyi at her home in Yangon on Saturday, according to the National League for Democracy central executive committee member Win Htein.
In the afternoon, she will meet organisations promoting women’s rights and voter participation ahead of the November 8 election. Myanmar recently endorsed a law that seeks to punish Buddhist women who marry men of different religious faiths.
