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‘We Have Always Been Running’: Why a Young Karen Woman Chose to Become a Soldier

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 10:21 PM / comment : 0 , , ,

Naw Mu Gay, 22, wanted to join the Karen army since a young age. Coming from a large family, Naw Mu Gay’s father found it hard to provide for everyone, having to work on a farm in order to exchange betel nut leaves for rice that was barely enough to feed his family. Attending a school far away from her village, Naw Mu Gay and her siblings had to live with their grandmother in Taungoo, seeing their parents only once a year during the school break. To help the family once her father fell ill, Naw Mu Gay had to drop out of school to work on a farm in the village. She and her family lived in constant fear of the Burma Army, often having to run to the jungle where the family would live in a broken tent, cooking only at night time when the smoke would not lead Burmese soldiers to their hideout. Naw Mu Gay grew up seeing her parents suffer amidst the conflict, and continuously having to run for their lives. This year, finally given the opportunity, Naw Mu Gay decided to join the KNDO (Karen National Defense Organisation), and says that she will rely on her fellow comrades to get through the difficult times that lay ahead.

We did not have enough food
Since we were young, we had many siblings, we did not have enough food. So, our father picked betel nut leaves, and went to exchange them for rice in another village. In the other village, they didn’t have betel nut leaves, and as they liked betel nut they had to exchange it for rice. It was enough for one week.

Naw Mu Gay’s family is now separated between attending school and working on a farm. Her father has fallen ill which meant Naw Mu Gay and her brother had to drop out of school in order to provide for the family. 

I attended school until the eighth grade. I then had to leave school because my father was sick. I had to go to school in another village, because we didn’t have a school in our village. It was very far. We had to go and stay at our grandmother’s house. We traveled for one day, we stayed there for the whole year and when the school closed I came and stayed with my father on the hill.

When we were schooling, our father was still healthy. So, he still lived in the hill, he didn’t live in Taungoo. There was only my grandmother in Taungoo. [The farm] it is not in Taungoo, but close to Taungoo. As [our] grandmother lives there, [our] father sent us there. My father was healthy at that time, so he worked in the hill.

I had to be afraid of everyone
For eight years I attended school. I then had to leave because my father was sick, [so] he moved to Taungoo, and I moved to the hill. I left [school] together with my brother. I helped him growing ‘Phalar’ [and] cutting betel nut. My brother [then] worked as a soldier, so there was only me. As a girl, I did not dare to live alone, so my father came and stayed with me, even though he was unhealthy.

There was no clinic [in the village]. If the condition was worrying, we had to go to Baw Ga Li town. There was only a motorbike way. [But] motorbike cannot go in the rainy season. In the rainy season, we had to carry the patient. There was I big stream. We had to cross the river to go to the clinic. It takes about one day to go the clinic there. […] People who couldn’t afford they couldn’t send, and they just ended their lives there in the village.
My mother, she stayed in Taungoo with my brother and a younger brother. The situation was very bad in the hill [farm] with the Burmese soldiers. The people who lived in the hill moved to Taungoo. [My] mother went and lived with the children [in Taungoo], my father, he came and stayed with me. […] I did not dare to live alone. I had to be afraid. I had to be afraid of everyone.

Burmese soldiers came and shot at us
In 1993 when Naw Mu Gay’s village was burnt by the Burmese military, much of the population had to move to Taungoo, the closest town one day walk away. Since then, the village has been rebuilt, and people have moved back to work at their farms, although ever since the attack from the Burmese military, the people have had to live in fear.
In 1993 when I was born, the Burma military came and burnt our village. There was no village. The village was destroyed. Some wanted to return to their village, but they did not dare to live [there]. As for some people, they were afraid to come back. There were land mines.

We heard from another village about an hour [away], when they were playing football, they [the Burmese military] came and shot at them. At that time some people died. Not many people injured, but dead. Around that time I was growing rice. While we were growing rice, the Burmese soldiers came and shot at us. But, no one was shot, and we escaped. [We] had to leave the things and run. Sometimes, there were deaths.

When we came back [from grandma’s house] in the summer holidays we had to run. Burma soldiers came, and the Burma military attacked. We had to run. Sometimes when we ran, our father was not with us. Our father had gone to work. That’s why as we [were] left in the house, we did not know what to do. Mother also, sometimes [was] not with us. At that time, I’d also grown up a little bit; therefore when I came back I had to look after the children. Then my parents left me. Even I did not dare to live alone, I had to. Sometimes when I heard the gun sound I did not [know] what to do. I had that kind of dangerous times.

As a girl, I did not dare to live alone, [I was] too afraid, I had to be afraid of everyone. When father came back we had to pack our things and run. I did not know where to run, there was nowhere to run.

We knew only that the Burmese military were coming
Naw Mu Gay and her family spent two or three years running from the Burmese army, hiding in the jungle, too afraid to even cook at times.
The Burma military came and attacked. We didn’t know exactly who attacked. We knew only that the Burmese military were coming. We just knew that.

We had to cover the old and broken tent and live there. Sometimes, we did not dare to cook. When we [would] cook the smoke [would] come out. Even at nighttime, we were afraid the light would come out. There were times we had to cover the whole place with blankets and [then] cook.

Naw Mu Gay says it has been about five years since her family has had to run away from the village. A preliminary ceasefire was signed between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burma Government in January 2012. This year, finally given the opportunity, at the age of twenty-two Naw Mu Gay decided to join the army.

Since I was a child my parents suffered the military fights
Everyone joined the army. But as for me, I joined the army because I wanted to. Since I was a child I wanted to join. I hate [the Burmese army]. Since I was a child my parents suffered the military fights. I hate [it]. Therefore, I wanted to join the army. I had to help my parents. Just this year, I joined the army.

When I lived in the house [in the hill], I knew nothing. It was strange, the outside world. When I joined the army, there were boy soldiers there also. They help [with] what I cannot do. As for the girls, they teach each other what others don’t know. I teach them what they don’t know.

[My] friends don’t know [that I am a soldier], but parents allowed me. It’s working for the country, therefore they support me. But they always remind me to take care. As a girl, there are many dangers.

[But] because of the leaders’ encouragements and inspirations, I really feel stronger. Even I am nothing, I am happy to be involved as a piece of sand and a piece of break (Burmese expression) for our people.

There may also be many difficulties. We have to overcome any difficulties. But, you will always have friends wherever you are. If you are good, your friends will also be good. I also just have a lot of friends when I arrived here. We have to overcome what we have to.

There are no parents [here], only friends look after each other
 Naw Mu Gay had been through so much trauma that her first experiences as a soldier weren’t initially about overcoming the fear of being a soldier, but the fear of being around other people her age.

 As I live together with many people I started to speak, before I did not speak a lot. There were times I didn’t dare to eat. But, if I don’t eat, I am hungry. So, I ate even with many people.

 I became to speak only when I arrived here. There are many girl soldiers. Therefore, I also feel stronger. When I was in the village, I didn’t have friends. I lived alone. When I [first] arrived here, friends […] they encouraged me. If I’m sick at home, my parents look after me. But, there are no parents [here], only friends look after each other.

Naw Mu Gay says she will continue to be a soldier. Although she is afraid she sees her role as a soldier a duty to her country, and she has no regrets.
As I joined this work, I have to keep my mind strong. I am afraid, but since I joined, I have to put that fear behind [me].
I don’t have regrets. I am happy. […] There will be difficulties. I will try the best. There are also many girl soldiers. We are like brothers and sisters.

‘According to the Burmese Military Activities in Our Area, Finding Real Peace Is Not That Easy’: Fifth Brigade Karen Commander

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 10:17 PM / comment : 0 , , ,

Located in the depths of Burma’s southeastern jungle, the Fifth Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU) remains a stronghold of the ethnic resistance movement. On a visit to the basecamp, Burma Link met with three members of the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO) to hear more about the situation on the ground, including ongoing Burma Army expansion. The commander of the first battalion, Kyaw Mu, has been working for the Karen Revolution since 1975—altogether 41 years. He has been with the Fifth Brigade for eight years, and his current position is the head of the KNDO Battalion Number One. Dom Na Htoo is the 33-year-old landmine survivor who he lost his leg in the explosion but continues serves with the Fifth Brigade. Eh Paw Shee is a 19-year-old woman serving with the Fifth Brigade.

Background: Since Burma gained independence from Great Britain in 1948, fighting has been an intermittent norm for the Karen State. The Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO) was founded in 1947 to protect the Karen people and territory, and remains under its mother organisation Karen National Union (KNU). After more than half a century of armed conflict, U Thein Sein Government initiated a peace process after coming to power in 2011, and in January 2012, the KNU signed a preliminary ceasefire with the Government. Meanwhile, armed conflict and displacement has continued in other parts of the country throughout peace talks, and new conflicts have erupted since eight Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAO), including the KNU, signed the so-called ‘Nationwide” Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in October 2015. So far the peace process has been exclusionary and non-transparent, and Burma Army has continued its attacks in the north. Whilst conflict has reduced since the 2012 ceasefire in the Karen areas, many are doubtful about the Burma Army’s motivations as they not only continue to attack ethnic nationalities in other parts of the country, but also expand their military reach in the Karen ceasefire areas. Furthermore, according to Commander Kyaw Mu, the Burma Government uses service provision such as education and health sectors to expand their territorial administration into Karen areas, further exacerbating the situation. Tensions run high; “They are putting people in our territories, so sometimes we have some conflicts on the front line,” says Kyaw Mu and urges international assistance to be conflict sensitive and closely follow the peace process. Whilst plans are currently under way for the 21st Century Panglong Conference, for many, the peace process comes across as empty rhetoric given the military’s actions as of late.
Interview
KNDO 1st Battalion Commander Kyaw Mu spoke to this seeming insincerity and the development of the peace process:

Currently, our leaders are having a peace process with the Burmese government and we have to see the result of the peace process afterward. On the ground here, we have not seen any political solution. And, based on the military activity here, it doesn’t look like they are going to give up because they have put up more outposts. They also reinforce and resupply their troops; so it seems like they are not going to give up easily and move out of our territories. But, we have to wait and see.

In our KNDO battalion area, the Burma Army has ten military outposts. Just in our battalion area since 2006 they have increased [their outposts by] one, one more outpost, but in some other brigades and in some other battalions, we don’t know how much. Just in our area here they have increased by one outpost. According to the Burmese military activities in our area, finding real peace is not that easy; obviously for us we cannot see anything [that indicates to us that] we are going to have a real peace, a real peace in the future.

Currently in the fifth brigade, the Burmese government wants to put its administration in our territories and they are doing this in many ways: through education, by putting their administration in our territories, and through health care. They are putting people in our territories, so sometimes we have some conflicts on the front line. They are trying to get more territory by using medical assistance, by using educational assistance, and by trying to help out in our administrative areas. We don’t like that, so we try to resist but still sometimes there is a conflict between the two groups and the two administrations.

This doesn’t mean that we don’t want to receive all the assistance coming to our territories, but we have to look at the political situation and the political dialogue. When everything is solved in a political way and we agree with it, when we have true peace and real federalism, then we won’t try to block or stop all of the assistance coming into our territory.  Since we have not received any productive results and since they have come to the peace talks with our organization we cannot make any conclusions at the moment. So we would rather stand with our principles than rely on any administration beyond our own. When peace comes and everything is OK and we have democracy, then OK, we can accept all of the assistance from the Burmese government.

Recently, Aung San Suu Kyi announced that more ethnic groups should be involved in the peace agreement’s process. At the moment with the new government she has very good intentions for everybody, but we cannot feel really certain about her political goals and her political objective; we have to wait and see how it goes and how she carries out her political objective step by step. We cannot just say whether she is good or she is bad; we have to wait and see and we cannot be so sure and certain about what she is going to do. We have to wait and see because their political activities sometimes are very high up, and for us the people on the ground here we can’t really catch up with what they do. We need to see a good result on the ground before we can say something.

On a final note, Kyaw Mu explained part of the psyche of perseverance that inhabits those involved in the fifth brigade:

 We really want to see stability and real peace in the country but right now people think of us as stubborn; people consider us stubborn and we are not stubborn. We don’t want to fight either; the only thing we want to see is real peace. The current situation we are facing right now is that we see the Burmese activities in our area and we don’t really see peace. And then we are very suspicious about what they are trying to do, but not because we oppose assistance or peace. We are very happy with the peace process, but we want to see something productive. We also want to say openly to other people that we don’t trust the Burmese but maybe sometimes it’s too hard. It’s going to be hard to say that, but in reality from what we have seen on the ground here they are not really making a change and they are improving their military activities. So it’s sometimes very hard to say that we don’t trust them. It may be politically incorrect, but sometimes we speak our mind and about what the truth is in the area here. And hopefully there is going to be a change in the future and we will all stay together and live together.

‘Please Support Our People, Not the Government – They Are Cheating the World’: Mahn Robert Ba Zan

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 10:13 PM / comment : 0 ,


Mahn Robert Ba Zan is a former Karen freedom fighter and an advisor to the Karen Communities of Minnesota. He served in the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) for more than 30 years, following in the footsteps of his father Mahn Ba Zan, the first commander of the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) and a former President of the Karen National Union (KNU). In 2000, Mahn Robert Ba Zan resettled to the United States of America with his family, changing his revolutionary tactics towards raising awareness and educating the Karen and other ethnics. In this interview, Mahn Robert Ba Zan talks about the ceasefire and car permits, ethnic unity, and how the international community can help the Karen in their quest for genuine peace and freedom.

There is no political solution, only ceasefire

According to Mahn Robert Ba Zan, the government is only changing at a surface level in order to further its own political and military gains. The Karen have not benefited from the historical ceasefire that the KNU signed in January 2012.
There is no political solution, only ceasefire. During the ceasefire, they [Burmese military] have been building a stronghold in Karen areas. They fill up all their ammunitions, and they build their bunkers with concrete. They are building very stronghold bunkers. So, on one side there is the ceasefire, but other side is preparing for war.
In some areas such as in Kachin, Shan, and Palaung they [Burmese military] still fight. Now they stopped fighting Karen, but soon they will start again. They already started fighting the DKBA [Democratic Karen Benevolent Army – previously known as Democratic Karen Buddhist Army].
There is no political solution now. There is no Karen State. Ceasefire [for the Burmese military] is to stop fighting so that they can build up military posts and to grab Karen land. So there is no benefit for the Karen people.
They know there is a great gold vein in Karen land, the biggest gold vein in the world. They will never withdraw from Karen land. That is one thing. They want Karen leaders to join with them. They want business in Burma, business in Kachinland. There are a lot of natural resources in Kachinland, Shan land, Palaung land and Karen land, Arakan land. In Burman areas, there is nothing. So they made the military powerful. They want to monopolize all ethnics politically and economically.
Unless they withdraw from our Karen land, unless they take their bombs from Karen land, there will be war forever.

Ethnic armies should unite and form a Federal Army

All ethnic armies should unite and form a Federal Army. And then if the Burmese fight, we fight them together. Only one solution, and one common headquarter for the Federal Army.
My father formed the united front. He was the founder of NDF [National Democratic Front]. His dream was that we will win the war with a united front. Every ethnic as one front and one command to fight.
At the time NDF was very good and very strong. They had northern front, eastern front, and southern front. The enemy was scared. They were scared so they wanted to split NDF.
The Burmese military has many divisions. But we don’t mind. We have a lot of ethnic groups. We know the places and we know the terrain. They don’t know. So we can fight and win revolution with united front.
This is our motto: ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’. The government is our common enemy, so we are friends.
Now the UNFC [United Nationalities Federal Council] is strong. The enemy is scared of the UNFC, so they want to split KNU from UNFC. Karen people don’t accept that KNU temporarily suspended their membership from the UNFC. Me too, I don’t agree. We don’t want to get out of the UNFC.
But UNFC is still strong. The problem is only temporary. Our permanent goal is to win the war with a united front. That’s our goal.
We can’t fight alone. We fight together.

One day we’ll all be under our Karen flag

Mahn Robert Ba Zan explains how the Burmese military has successfully used bribes to divide the resistance movement. As the ethnic armies are more aware of government military tactics, the Burmese have recently bribed them with car permits instead of money.
The Burmese military is very cunning. They know the military tactics of Sun Tzu, the Chinese military strategy. They know very well about Sun Tzu tactics.
They are scared, so they divide, divide, and divide. They have a strategic command, they know everything. They know that some leaders want money, some like alcohol, some like women. So they split the leadership. They split the Karen revolution.
Now they bribe Karen political leadership with car permits. They give only car permits, no money. The permits were given to the Karen political leadership, to the ones who are willing to sign the ceasefire. Even now inside UNFC, they split KNU.
According to Mahn Robert Ba Zan, money is also the reason why some Karen soldiers joined the BGF [Border Guard Force] under Burmese military command.
It’s because of money, giving, giving. We can’t give money. The Burmese military persuade Karen soldiers with money.
But this is only temporary. It is not ideological. One day we’ll all be under our Karen flag. All Karen groups. Even in BGF, Border Guard Force, and many Karen soldiers will join Karen revolution. One day, all Karen together.

They are cheating the world

To help the ethnic struggle, international community should provide education and health to the Karen people, Mahn Robert Ba Zan says.
We want education, education is key. And we need medicine for Karen people. Sometimes enemy attacks and the people need food. Now international donors have stopped helping the refugees, they even reduced rations to half. So the people need help.
There is still fighting and there are still refugees.
Now the international community changed their front to Rangoon. Because of enemy tactics. They [the Burmese government] say – We made a ceasefire with Karen! No need for refugees there! So, international community is going to Rangoon and they have their projects in Burma, not on the border.
They should support across the border, unless there is peace. If we don’t have peace in Burma, don’t support! Don’t go to Burma!
They are cheating now, they are cheating the world. If they want real peace – Stop fighting in Kachin, Shan and Palaung land!

They have spies, to split KNU

Mahn Robert Ba Zan served in the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) as a company commander, captain, column commander, Deputy Battalion commander and tactical commander for 32 years.

Mahn Robert Ba Zan in KNLA uniform (Photo: https://www.facebook.com/mrobertzan)
I was with the KNLA from 1964 to 1997. First I joined KNLA at Irrawaddy Delta. 1964 to 1969, and then I came to east Kawthoolei.
At the time my father was the chairman of KNU [Karen National Union]. Before General Bo Mya, my father Mahn Ba Zan was the KNU President.

Karen Major General Nerdah Bo Mya: ‘The Government Is Playing the Game’

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 10:09 PM / comment : 0 , , ,

Nerdah Bo Mya is a Major General and the Chief of Staff of the Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO), which was founded in 1947 to protect the Karen people and territory, and is under its mother organisation Karen National Union (KNU). Nerdah Bo Mya, 48, was born near Manerplaw—the former headquarters of the KNU as well as other ethnic nationalities and the pro–democracy movement—as the son of the late General Bo Mya who was the President of the KNU from 1976 to 2000. After being educated in Thailand and in the US, where Nerdah Bo Mya spent six years studying a Liberal Arts degree at a university in California, the young graduate turned away from a future in the US and soon returned to the Thailand-Burma border. For over 20 years, he has fought for “freedom, democracy, and humanity,” against what is undoubtedly one of the most brutal military regimes in the world. This dedicated and empathetic “rebel” leader emphasizes that it is not just the Karen people but a whole nation of 60 million people who are still suffering and need to be freed. Although the international community has enjoyed what some call a honeymoon with the Burmese government since the country started opening up in 2011, according to Nerdah Bo Mya, the government is still not showing signs of sincerity in peace talks nor genuine willingness to change. “The government is playing the game,” he says, and the international community too often indirectly participating in ongoing atrocities. In this exclusive interview with Burma Link, Nerdah Bo Mya talks about the struggle, the current state of the ceasefire and the peace process, the role of the international community, and how to build a prosperous Burma for the future generations.

 Q: Why did you join the KNDO and the Karen struggle?

I joined the Karen struggle because I want my people to be free. I want democracy, and also, we are fighting, struggling for our Karen identity, and self-determination.

Q: How would you describe the current situation in Karen areas?

The current situation right now, it’s quiet. It’s been quiet for two and a half years already, close to three years. But at the same time, human rights violations are still going on. It’s been quiet because we signed the, we call the ceasefire negotiations, with the Burmese government. But, the reason why we’re having ceasefire negotiations with the government is first of all we want to stop fighting, and then after [we] stop fighting then we will have political discussion. After political discussion, if we will come to like a mutual agreement, after that hopefully we will have peace in Burma.

Q: The KNU signed the preliminary ceasefire with the government in January 2012. How has that ceasefire benefited the Karen people or the Karen struggle?

When you look at everything on the surface, it seems like everything is OK, because it’s quiet. But at the same time the Burmese [military] are taking advantage of the situation, and they’re moving their troops in and sending supplies, and rebuilding their outposts, in our territories. So on the other hand, what they really want is to occupy our territories, and what we want is, we want to preserve our identity. So we are going opposite ways.

Q: Where is the peace process now?

I think with this government, it’s not easy, because their strategy is totally different. Their strategy is to wipe out all the ethnic groups, and to call all the ethnic groups to stay under them, to renounce their [ethnic] armed troops. But they [the government] try to manipulate and strategise and play the game, so that people will misunderstand the whole process. But deep down inside, they have no heart for negotiations for peace process, for peace negotiations, so called peace negotiations.

I want to tell the people that the ceasefire situation right now is useless. We cannot trust the government, the government is not sincere for peace talks. They just want to lie to get money, get rid of all the ethnic groups, committing more crimes, committing genocide against the ethnic people. That’s all they want. The mentality is that they don’t change, they just take out their uniforms and inside the same thing. They, you know, they’re not changing at all. Actually, they’re just playing the game. I want to also warn the international community that if they want to invest in Burma they have to talk and listen to many sides before they invest or put money into business in Burma. Otherwise they’re just indirectly killing innocent people. Because the Burmese government is a murderer.

Q: The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), which represents 16 ethnic armed groups, and the government’s Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UWPC) agreed on the draft Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on March 31st. What is your view on this? Is this a significant step towards nationwide ceasefire?

NCCT and UPWC agreed on the draft NCA, but is not working. It is just a political game. Who wants this? The Burmese government wants this so badly just to show to the world that there is peace in Burma. In reality the Burmese government wants us to surrender. Ceasefire with military regime is meaningless. Nothing will be productive under this government.

Q: Do you think the government is willing to discuss the political goals of the Karen and the other ethnic people?

No I don’t think so. The government is playing the game, and trying to manipulate the Karen people and trying to use different groups. In the old days they used to divide and rule, divide and conquer. They’re still using that these days. And then, I don’t think they’re sincere for peace negotiations anyway.

Q: How do you see the current conflict situation in northern Burma? Is it related to the Karen struggle?

It’s related to the Karen struggle because under this military regime we’re all facing the same situation. All the ethnic groups they want to preserve their identities, because they have their own history, they want to preserve it. They want to preserve their culture. And it has been forbidden by the government, [for] many many years. That’s why [there is] the conflict, we still have this kind of conflict, and fighting, between the Burmese government and the ethnic groups.

Q: Much of the ethnic armed opposition is united under the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), which suffered a severe blow when the KNU temporarily suspended their membership in August 2014. What is your view on this? Do you think the ethnic groups should fight as one united front?

I don’t really agree on that one [KNU suspending the UNFC membership], because one way or another we have to rely on each other, because we are on the same boat fighting, trying to achieve the same goal and same objective.
We are trying [for unity], we’re trying hard so that we can cooperate and fight, unitedly, at the same time. But also we are facing some difficulties because people have different points of view, but we’re working very hard so that we can, hopefully not too long, we can come to a point where we can all agree and we can work together closely.

Q: There was one recent attempt towards closer cooperation between the Karen groups with the formation of the Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KAF). What is the current status of the KAF?

Kawthoolei Armed Forces is to unite all the Karen armed groups to stay under one administration, under one umbrella. It means under Kawthoolei Armed Forces we have DKBA (Democratic Karen Benevolent Army), we have [KNU-KNLA] Peace Council, we have KNLA, we have KNDO. Even though they have different badges, but [they] must be under one umbrella administration. And this is what we’re trying to do.
Whether you are DKBA, people can call Kawthoolei Army, KNLA Kawthoolei Army, because our country is called Kawthoolei. The armed forces should be called Kawthoolei Army. So they all agreed on this. So we realised that OK if all the groups agree on this, then we can, it will be much easier for us to put them under one umbrella and one administration. One constitution, so that we have only one army in the Karen State, protecting the Karen territory.

Q: In January 2013 the KNU signed Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment to protect civilians in conflict. Why was it signed and what does it mean to the KNU? 

We want to make a better change for our nation, so we have to show example to the Burmese government before they sign it. So, we signed it, even though we are struggling for peace and democracy, and they [the Burmese military] outnumber us. Actually we should use up all our strength that we have so that we can counter their military offensive, but on the other hand we want to show them that we are human beings, you know, ‘you cannot really use women and children and people under aged to fight with us, so even though you don’t sign, we sign it.’ So that now we only have voluntary soldiers, and all of them over 18.

Q: How can the international community help the Karen people and the struggle?

The international community, about the struggle in Burma, they have to be participate into it, because it’s not a struggle about freedom only, but for democracy, humanity, and 60 million people need to be freed. Not only ethnic [nationalities] struggle for ethnic rights, we’re talking about 60 million people, they’re human beings, they shouldn’t be under this kind of government. This brutal government is not really thinking about the people and they’re not supporting the people. They shouldn’t be running the country.
International community should realise that they [the government] should respect the rights of human beings, rights of the Burmese people. When they invest without talking with the people, it means they’re violating human rights. So they have to, before they invest, make sure people in Burma have the rights of freedom of expression, freedom to live as a human being, and free from all kinds of atrocities. And then they can invest. But first of all you can’t really invest and deal with a few people, you know, exchanging benefits and forget about 60 million people.

Q: What would you like to say to the Burmese military?

I want to tell them that now we’re living in the same situation, we’re living in the same country. And we cannot really hate each other, trying to eliminate one another. We should work together, we should think about the future of Burma… They [the government] should be more open-minded and think about the future, think about the coming up generations, how are they going to run the country.
And so [it is] time for us to reconsider what we have in our minds, and what [will be] the future of Burma, and how can we live, how can we work together, how can we develop our country, how can we prosper together. They have to think positively rather than try to dominate and control and kill people and they think that they can use force to win and to gain victory.

Q: What would you like to say to the people of Burma?

We’re very strong in our determination. We’re not tired of struggling for freedom for 60 million people. People should realise that preserving our culture is very valuable and people need to have mutual respect towards one another and love one another, care for one another. And this is where we can build a peaceful Burma, and prosperous Burma in the future. Because I’ve been fighting the Burmese regime for 20 years already, but I fight because I love my people. Not because I hate the Burmese people. I realise that this is not an appropriate thing, for only a handful of people trying to control 60 million people, and they’re holding [onto] their power there. I want them to be out and the people will be free. This is want I want, democratic Burma, federation Burma, freedom for Burma.

Q: What is your vision for Burma in the future?

In the future, I think that this government cannot go on for long. One way or another they have to let it go. But through bloodshed or through peaceful means, we have to, we will see. But they cannot go on this way, people cannot stand it. When you have nothing, nowhere to go, then you will stand up and fight for your rights.
We need a free democratic government. And where our people can enjoy equality, equal rights, and enjoy the basic value of being a human being, [and having] human rights.

http://www.burmalink.org/

Karen Armed Forces Statement on Reunification (ကရင္အမ်ဳိးသား လက္နက္ကိုင္ ေတာ္လွန္ေရး တပ္ဖြဲ႔ မ်ား ျပန္လည္ေပါင္းစည္းျခင္း သေဘာတူညီခ်က္)

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 10:05 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,



1. In accordance with the wishes of the Karen people, we, the forces of KNLA, KNDO, DKBA and KNU/KNLA-PC have unanimously reunified as the (Kawthoolei Armed Forces – KAF).

2. The Burma military (Tatmadaw) troops have been intimidating, disarming and attacking, on flimsy excuses, the ethnic armed organizations, which have signed ceasefire agreement with the government, and arresting the personnel of the ethnic armed organizations and the innocent civilians, on a wide scale.

3. Though the peace process has been going on for over three years, instead of achieving the expected progress, we plainly see that the Burma Army has been doing trustwrecking activities.

4. In addition to intensifying military offensives in the Kachin and Shan States, the Burma Army has started military attacks in the Mon and Karen States.

5. Increasing military activities by the Burma Army like this, have caused much concern to us for the nationwide ceasefire negotiation and peace building process.

6. For that reason, in order to be able to protect the long suffering people, we have to reunify the Karen national armed resistance forces.

7. The Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KAF) is an army for the protection of the Karen nationals and the entire people, and it will carry on the struggle in cooperation with the alliance of ethnic armed organizations, until the establishment of a democratic federal system, in which there is full self-determination for the Karen people to manage their own destiny.

8. The Four Principles of Karen national leader Saw Ba U Gyi’s will be firmly adhered to and practiced.

9. We, the KAF, declare by this statement that we will carry on the struggle in cooperation with forces at home and abroad, until the emergence of lasting peace and a democratic federal union, and the achievement of victory.
For further information – Contact: (+66) 9 0147 9893

Joint Statement of Karen Women’s Groups in Support of the Reunification of the Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KAF)

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 10:02 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,

The Karen Women’s Organization (KWO), Karen Women’s Empowerment Group (KWEG) and Karen Women’s Union (KWU) welcome the announcement, on October 13th, 2014, of the Karen armed resistance groups coming together under the name of “Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KAF)”. The alliance of 4 Karen armed forces meets the long held desire of Karen people everywhere, especially of Karen women. We believe this is an opportunity for both peace building, and improved co-operation which can help reduce violence against women.

“The KAF was originally formed on July 5, 1949. At that time the KAF combined different Karen armed groups but over the years the alliance has split up. We are pleased to see that the Karen armed groups have reunified under the KAF and hope it will increase cooperation and understanding. We believe this unity will help to bring the genuine peace we all seek.” said Nan Dah Eh Kler, KWO Chairperson.

Our community has been hoping for the reunification of different Karen armed groups for a long time. “We, the Karen people are not afraid of unity among the armed groups. Rather, we are afraid of splits and disunity which have a serious impact on the daily lives of local people. I am both encouraged by and fully support the unification of Karen organizations by the forming of KAF. This is right time to show our unity.” said Naw Ohn Hla from the Karen Women’s Union (KWU).

The 4 Karen armed forces who are now members of the KAF are the KNLA, KNDO, DKBA, and KNU/KNLA-PC.
Karen Women’s Groups support the reunification of the KAF and we would like to see further action taken by the newly unified KAF. We wish to recommend:
  • that the KAF, as a group, works to seek political solutions through dialogue and the support of the KNU and political bodies of other armed groups, while negotiating for peace with the Government of Burma.
  • that the KAF develop and enforce a military code of conduct for its members to abide by, with the aim of containing the escalation of confrontations with the Tatmadaw.
  • that the KAF avoid any practices which infringe on the human rights of civilians and work actively to respect, protect and promote human rights, rule of law and civilian security.
  • that the members and officers of KAF refrain from personal involvement in corrupt business activities and abuse of power.
  • that all members of KAF sign, as the KNU has done already, the two Geneva Call Deeds of Commitment, on the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict and the Prohibition of Sexual Violence.
“I never believe there is danger in unity. It is the lack of unity which can destroy our chances for sustainable peace in our country. This unification can help lead to more unity throughout the Karen community.” Susanna Hla Hla Soe, Director, Karen Women’s Empowerment Group (KWEG).

KWO is a community based organization formed in 1985 with the aim of empowerment of Karen women to be free from oppression, achieving equal status with men and to support the wellbeing of women and children. KWO has more than 45,000 members, including Karen women from refugee camps in Thailand and Karen State. We conduct a wide range of leadership development, advocacy, and provide services to women and children on both sides of the border.

KWEG was formed in March 8, 2003 with the purpose of bringing a brighter future to women and children. KWEG engages with facilitating training to build women’s capacity, a micro-finance program for families, women’s protection and empowerment programs and educational support of poor children and emergency assistance victims of disaster. Moreover, KWEG does advocacy for women rights, protection, and women’s participation in peace building.

KWU was formed in April 2014 with the purpose of supporting and shaping democracy and human rights in Burma. KWU works to promote Karen culture, literature and to encourage peace building and reconciliation in the country.

Media Contact: Naw Siyo Paw: +66 892679617 Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe: +95 9250795258 Naw Ohn Hla: +95 9425308194

Central Standing Committee after 15th KNU Congress Third Emergency Meeting Statement

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 9:59 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , ,

1. Karen National Union (KNU) Central Standing Committee (CSC) third emergency meeting was held successfully from October 23 to 29. The emergency meeting was attended by 47 out of 50 CSC members.

2. The CSC emergency meeting reviewed and discussed, openly and constructively, on the current political situation of Burma, the situation of own organization, work relating to alliances, nationwide ceasefire matter and the negotiation processes.

3. In accordance with the KNU Congress resolution, in order to discuss the political problems politicallyin the peace process currently being implemented, and to commence inclusive political dialogue from nationwide ceasefire,the KNU will cooperate with the ethnic armed organizations, political parties and political forces.

4. In accordance with the plan laid down by the 15th Congress for reuniting the armed organizations, which had split from the KNU, the Committee for Reunification of Karen Armed Organizations, formed by the Central Committee, will continue to realize the reunification.

5. Reunification of the Karen armed organizations under the political leadership of the KNU, or the formation of Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KAF) is accepted, in principle, and the coming KNU Congress will decide so thatthe realization of it shall be undertaken in accordance with the Constitution, political and work programs of the KNU.

6. Regarding the question of rejoining the UNFC, the KNU CSC members discussed and deliberated on seriously, and the temporary suspension of membership will be sustained. During the period of temporary suspension, consultation with the UNFC will be continued and for the realization of the political goals of the ethnic nationalities, the KNU will cooperate, as necessary, with the ethnic armed organizations, individually or in group.

Contact Points: P’doh Mahn Mahn – Joint Secretary (2) – KNU SHQ – (+66)87-9438750 P’doh Saw Thamain Tun – CEC member – KNU SHQ – (+66)86-211 2745

http://www.burmapartnership.org

Statement by Kawthoolei Armed Forces on signing NCA

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 9:56 PM / comment : 0 , , , , ,

THE QUESTION IS: ‘WHO IS THE OUTLAW AND REAL REBEL?’
  1. Our First Karen President in history never signed to be a part of Burma, or a part of a Union to gain the Independence of Burma from the British. (Neither did the Arakan, Mon or Karenni). We were following the procedure of the British government before the handing over of Independence to Burma, to grant those, who did not sign to be a part of Burma, their own autonomous country.
  2. Our Karen leaders have never bowed to be under the rule of Military Dictatorship. History shows over 400,000 Karen civilians peacefully demonstrated in Rangoon, during the term of Prime Minister U Nu, however his response was a challenge: “You will have to fight for it”.
  3. We Karen public, by requesting with peaceful demonstration to have justice, equality and autonomy were we to join the union, does not entail that we are rebels or causing disruption or instability in the
  4. Defending the freedom of our people and the sovereignty of our land from Burmese Military invaders (Myanmar) doesn’t make us rebels or terrorists. It was the Burma Army under U Nu who initiated the first military offensive against the Karen. This resulted in our Karen having no choice other than to take up arms to defend and protect the freedom of our people and the sovereignty of our Karen
  5. Karen already had their own military officially formed under the British rule and was active as allies with the British during the 2nd World War fighting against the Japanese Invasion to protect the whole of Burma and our own Karen. The Karen Army was formed legitimately under the British rule, even before Burma became independent. We are not a rebel army as the Burmese Regime have accused
  6. The ones who are terrorising the Karen and Ethnic States and their peoples, causing disturbance of peaceful living, for nearly 70 years, is the Burmese Regime and their
  1. They call us ‘outlaws’ and ‘rebels’ all because we never signed to be under their Nor have we ever been in agreement with the present Regime’s unjust laws under their 2008 military constitution.
  2. The real outlaw is the Regime itself, who live above the law both internal and external, who have a record of committing war crime activities and Human Rights abuses against all who stand up for justice. They also bribe International Countries with natural resources to get their approval or ‘blind eye’ on what the Regime is doing within the country even to this
  3. The true Rebel is the Regime that cunningly twists and turns their so-called laws to prolong their power grip and to expand their military might to overrun all the Ethnic States and
We are living in the day where “Right is Wrong, and Might is Right”.
It is sad to see the International Community’s ignorance in their support of the Burmese Regime as a ‘legitimate government’ despite the outcry of all citizens in Burma in their struggle for Democracy and true Peace for the Ethnics. Every ‘Reform Program’ under the Burmese 2008 Military Constitution is a sham, including the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement of October 15, 2015. It is shameful to see all the Foreign Diplomats showing testimony of support to the Regime in front of all the people in Burma.

The evidence we see by the International Community’s support to this Regime, reveals to us that no foreign country has any concern or show of sympathy and sincerity for the will of all the citizens in Burma for Democracy, who are struggling against the violence and shackling of a notorious criminal Regime. Instead they are making the majority of Burmese citizens slave-laborers to their big Corporations and Companies who collaborate with the Myanmar Trade Union which is an instrument of the Military Regime – all due to either their personal interests, interests of their own nation’s economy, or regional interests with the bribes of natural resources from the Regime.

These natural resources belong to the citizens of Burma and the Ethnics. This will not only bring a future political mess in Burma and block the hope of the existence of true Democracy, but will also prolong the long-suffering of all the citizens of Burma.
The standoff is between a handful of Regime Authoritarians and their Military against the will of 58 million people who want Freedom and Democracy in Burma.

All people in Burma are sick and tired of this ‘magic’ word so-called ‘Reform’ that the Burmese Regime and International Community have been promoting for 5 years with no foreseeable result of improvement for the benefit of the people. It is only enabling the Regime to strengthen their military power.

The Obama Administration and other countries of the International Community know full well that Democracy is never birthed from Dictatorship. It is birthed from the will of the people.

Ever since the overwhelming majority vote of the people in the 1990 Election, the will of the people of Burma has been and still remains Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD Party and the 88 Generation Leaders in their stand for Democracy.

Seeing the various leaders and representatives of the International Community paying visits to Lady Aung San Suu Kyi’s home to hug, kissing her cheek, and shake hands with her as their ‘show of support for Democracy’ with hidden agendas of their self-interests, is not what the people of Burma want to see. She, and the citizens, deserve more than that. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD Party should be given the respect of full legitimacy of government, not this Regime. May not all the lives of the Generation 88 student leaders that were laid down for the sake of Democracy be in vain, who pioneered and inspired the country towards Democracy.

If the International Community continues to collaborate with Thein Sein and his Military to carry on the never-ending ‘Reform’ process after 2015, and the Regime’s continuation of war crimes and atrocities towards the Ethnic States and Ethnic peoples, then their actions are not only a continuance of hindering true Democracy in Burma, it is a violation of the International Community’s own moral standard of Human Rights.

http://www.burmapartnership.org

Kawthoolei Armed Forces Disagrees about the NCA Signing

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 9:50 PM / comment : 0 , , , , ,

KAF disagrees with the 3 Karen groups, KNU, DKBA, and KNU/KNLA PC as representing ALL Karen when signing the NCA with the Burmese with their intent to destroy historical evidence of our freedom. Also, misleading and creating confusion among all the Ethnics against their wishes of their own freedom, for the following reasons:
  1. It betrays the Principles and wishes of our Karen Forefathers. They were careful not to sign to be a part of Burma in the first place, even the Panglong Agreement, due to the lack of assurance of the freedom of all Karen. They left a heritage for our Karen people as a free people even to this day.

  2. It is against the will of our Karen people to see the Burmese military invasion of their livelihood and the ownership of their land and their future.

  3. Many of our Karen martyrs and soldiers did not die or lay down their lives for the sake of a small number of people to sell off our Karen rights with self-interests and their demands for political status. They laid/lay down their lives for the freedom and self-determination of our Karen people.

  4. By entering the Burmese political mess that leads to the laying down of our arms, we strongly do not believe it will bring a great future for our Karen.

  5. The current Burmese rulers are Army Generals and are self-appointed and not cleanly elected by the people based on true Democracy.

  6. These self-appointed Karen organizational leaders have no right to represent ALL Karen in a political status without the legitimacy of a proper election by the Karen public as a whole.

  7. We believe Burmese interests and Ethnics interests clearly and distinctly differ. What the Ethnics want is freedom and self-determination. What the Burmese Generals want is to extend their military might, to overrun us and to suck us into their political mess, to confuse and distract us from our goal for National Interests. Ethnic Issues has nothing to do with Burmese politics. It is about our National freedom.

  8. We do not believe the Regime’s program of a Nationwide Ceasefire will lead to genuine Peace.

  9. True Peace is based on mutual respect with honesty and integrity, without surrender, that leads to the recognition of equality and respect of the rights of all Ethnic identities within their own motherlands.

  10. We do not believe that Myanmar should dominate the whole entire nation using all kinds of manipulations. But, we believe in a true Federal Union based on individual Ethnic autonomous States.

  11. It is for this reason, that Thein Sein’s Regime and their military, who are full of their self-power agenda, are not capable of creating true peace within the Union with all the Ethnics. Neither, do the KNU, or these two other Karen organisations, are also blinded of our historical stand to overcome the Regime to fulfill the interest of ALL Karen.

Karen Armed Groups to Form United ‘Kawthoolei Armed Forces,’ but Questions Remain

Posted by: Ka Shee Posted date: 9:46 PM / comment : 0 , , ,

A statement released by members of the different Karen armed groups laid out plans for the major Karen armed organisations to form a united Karen force, the Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KAF).

The statement spoke on behalf of the four major Karen armed organisations, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and the KNU/KNLA Peace Council.

The agreement was co-signed by General Baw Kyaw Heh, the KNLA’s Vice-Chief of Staff, General Ner Dah Mya, Chief of KNDO, General Saw Lah Pwe, DKBA’s Chief of Staff and Colonel Saw Tiger, Tactical Commander for KNU/KNLA – PC’s border security and development tactical command. 

General Ner Dah Mya, Chief of the KNDO, also acts as a spokesperson for the KAF, spoke to Karen News about the statement.

“At the moment, there are so many Karen armed groups and in the future it would be good if we are under one group – the KAF. We have had a lot of discussion among our groups. We reached an agreement to go under the umbrella of the KAF. Having many groups does not look good in the eye of international community.”

The statement cited recent attacks by government forces as a reason was reached to unite.
“The Burma military troops have been intimidating, disarming and attacking, on flimsy excuses, the ethnic armed organizations, which have signed ceasefire agreement with the government, and arresting the personnel of the ethnic armed organizations and the innocent civilians, on a wide scale,” the KAF statement said.

“For that reason, in order to be able to protect the long suffering people, we have to reunify the Karen national armed resistance forces.”

The KAF statement made a sweeping pledge to follow the four principles of Karen national hero and former head of the KNU, Saw Ba U Gyi, but failed to go into specific details left many questions unanswered. Some questions include who would lead the KAF, what chain of command would be put in place to control the different member organisations, if the KAF had the full backing of each organisation, and what political organisation, if any, they would represent. At the time of writing, Karen News was waiting for responses to these questions.
Gen. Der Nah Mya admitted that although the groups had agreed to go together militarily, it has yet to reach agreement on who will take the political lead and added that there was need for further discussion on among the groups.

Following the KAF statement, the KNU’s Defence Department, that comprises both the KNLA and KNDO, put out a statement on October 14, reaffirming that both organisations still come under the political leadership of the KNU.

The Karen armed force reunification agreement co-signed by KNLA’s Vice Chief of Staff and the KNDO’s Chief was solely out of their individual consent, the KNU said.

The KNU’s Defence Department statement also said that according to its policy laid down in its 15th Congress, the KNU is working toward the reunification of Karen armed forces and the KNLA’s Chief of Staff – General Saw Johnny – is leading the implementation of the reunification.

Similarly, the headqaurters of the KNU/KNLA-Peace Council issued a statement on October 14, sacking Colonel Saw Tiger from its organization. The statement claimed that Tactical Commander Colonel Saw Eh Kaw Htoo, also known as Saw Tiger, had repeatedly broken military rules and failed to follow orders from headquarters.

Members of the KAF have fought each other in the past as bitter foes. The DKBA fought with the KNU/KNLA for more than a decade following a split in 1995, when it joined the government side. A large portion of the government led Border Guard Force (BGF) currently fighting in Karen State against the DKBA are also ethnic Karen.

http://karennews.org/2014/10/karen-armed-groups-to-form-united-kawthoolei-armed-forces-but-questions-remain.html/
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