KNU Statement affirming Full Support for Decision of NLD

OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS

KAREN NATIONAL UNION

KAWTHOOLEI

KNU Statement affirming Full Support for Decision of NLD

March 31, 2010

1. We the Karen National Union (KNU) earnestly and fully support decision of the National League for Democracy (NLD) not to register as a political party under the unjust laws and 2008 constitution of the SPDC military regime and thus to boycott the upcoming elections.

2. The decision of NLD, which is supported by an overwhelming majority of the people of Burma, is the decision of the people, and thus, it is a valid and legitimate decision.

3. In the past 20 years, the regime has made its utmost effort to sideline or eliminate the NLD altogether. The military regime is most likely to be gleeful over the decision of the NLD not to remain as a party and not to contest in the upcoming elections. It might think that it has now got rid of the NLD forever. However, so long as there are people in the country, the spirit of the NLD will remain alive.

4. The regime will go on with its elections, which is one of the steps in its so-called Road Map to democracy. We may not have much difficulty to prove that it will now be a total farce, when 80% of the voters will not be willingly casting the ballot.

5. The people of Burma will have to make renewed effort for freedom and democratic change, as it is now clear that the regime’s Road Map to democracy is just an outright fraud.

6. We would like to urge all the ethnic and democratic forces and the international forces for peace, freedom and democracy to join hands together and make a concerted push for final victory against the SPDC military regime, which is the most ruthless and criminal dictatorship in the world.

7. In conclusion, we would like to call on the International Community, including the US, EU, ASEAN countries etc. to censure the military elections and not to recognize the results.

Supreme Headquarters

Karen National Union

စစ္သူေတာင္းစားမဲဆြယ္ပံုေလး

Karen Community Association Sheffield Fund Raising Event

Photo buy Basil Sage.

A Five-Month Old Baby Boy and His Five-Year Old Sister Killed by the Burmese Army

Media Release from European Karen Network

For Immediate Release 26th March 2010

A Five-Month Old Baby Boy and His Five-Year Old Sister Killed by the Burmese Army

A five-month old baby boy Saw Htee Plar Htoo and his five-year old sister Naw Paw Bo were killed when the Burmese Army troops attacked their village Khaw Hta in Kler Lwe Htoo (Nyaunglinbin) District, Karen State on 22nd March. Their mother, Naw Pa Lah, was seriously wounded on the stomach.

Another villager, Naw La Pwe, 37 years old and the mother of six children was also killed in this attack.

On 22nd March, Burmese army troops Battalion 369 entered the village around 4:30 pm and opened fire without warning, shooting any one and everyone in it. Villagers tried to escape but it was too late as they were already in the village. Nine houses were also destroyed.

These villagers fled their village in February when the Burmese Army attacked nearby villages. They just returned to their village a week ago and now have been forced again to flee their village.

The remaining villagers fled into the jungle and are now in hiding as the Burmese Army remains active in the area.

Since mid January this year, the Burmese Army has stepped up attacks in several areas in Karen State . In the previous attacks, three villagers were killed and more than 2,500 people were forced to flee their homes. In another area, a fifteen year old schoolboy was killed and two others were wounded when the Burmese Army fired mortar bombed their school in a hiding side.

“The European Union should end its silence on the attacks on ethnic civilians in Eastern Burma ,” said Nan Kyi Aye, board member of the European Karen Network. “The European Union under the presidency of Spain should call on the Burmese Regime to immediately stop the attacks on Karen civilians and call for United Nations to set up a commission of inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Burmese Army. The European Commission should provide humanitarian aid in this area without delay through cross-border assistance”.

The EKN brings together Karen people and represents Karen communities across Europe . We aim to raise awareness about the situation in Karen State and Burma as a whole and pressure European governments to do more to bring about democratic transition in Burma .

For more information please contact Nan Kyi Aye, board member of European Karen Network on +4741847953 (European time).

UK Government Supports Burma Regime Referral To International Criminal Court

Media Release From Burma Campaign UK

For Immediate Release 25th March 2010

UK Government Supports Burma Regime Referral To International Criminal Court

The Burma Campaign UK today warmly welcomed a statement by the British government that it would support the United Nations Security Council referring Burma to the International Criminal Court.

The statement was made on 24th March by H.E. Mr. Mark Lyall Grant, UK Representative to the United Nations, after a meeting of the United Nations Security Council about the situation in Burma. In response to a question on a recent recommendation by the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma that Burma’s dictatorship be investigated for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, he stated: “Because Burma is not a state party to the ICC it would require the Security Council to make a reference, and I don’t think the Security Council is sufficiently unanimous in its view to allow such a reference to happen. We of course would support such a reference.”

The Burma Campaign UK has been campaigning for the British government to support a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma, with the aim of referring Burma to the International Criminal Court. Almost 200 MPs have backed the campaign.

“Once again the British government is taking the lead in defending human rights and supporting the people of Burma,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The generals in Burma will never allow justice and democracy in Burma. They slaughter their own people, they torture their own people, and rape against ethnic women is government policy. Rather than engaging with the fake elections the generals are holding later this year, the international community should focus on putting the generals in jail where they belong.”

Burma’s dictatorship has been deliberately targeting civilians in its war against ethnic minorities in Burma. More than 3,500 villages have been destroyed by the Burmese Army in the past 15 years, and the use of rape is widespread and systematic, even against girls as young five.

For more information contact Anna Roberts on 44(0)7950849529.

Mark Farmaner

Director

Burma Campaign UK

28 Charles Square

London

N1 6HT

Direct Tel: +44 (0)20 7324 4713

Mobile:+44 (0)7941239640

Email: mark.farmaner@burmacampaign.org.uk

Web: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/

Burma and the Karens By Dr. San C. Po C.B.E.

Burma and the Karens by Dr. San C. Po C.B.E -

Reconciliation Needed for a United Burma

CONTRIBUTOR

Reconciliation Needed for a United Burma

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By NAW MAY OO Tuesday, March 16, 2010

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Historians know well that every story has many sides, many aspects, and many dimensions to explore. When a story is about such a topic as faith or politics, emotions can quickly become charged.

Politics and history often intertwine, and inextricably connect, as individuals advocate for beliefs and ideas important to them. When our history and beliefs are challenged, it is easy to believe we ourselves are being challenged. Unchecked, this can open old wounds, and further the distance between us.

A united Burma requires a spirit of togetherness and reconciliation from all of us. In this spirit, I respectfully call for more political sensitivity in all who are active in the movement for change.

I believe that what is most important is individual conversion and change of heart, to recognize people first and foremost in their humanity, and to respect and to treat with dignity.

However, recent articles in The Irrawaddy have caused me to pause and reflect on the condition of the movement for change in Burma.

After the military coup on Sept. 18, 1988, my brother and three friends, university students, came to my mother for help and somewhere to hide. They were all university students in their junior and senior years.

My mother helped smuggle them out to safety, and we subsequently heard they had reached a Karen National Union base.

Two months later, we also left, traveling through the mountains to the Salween River and a village called Kawmoorah, where students from all over Burma were gathering and where the All Burma Students' Democratic Front began to take shape. For many, it was their first encounter with Karen people.

As more students arrived, the nature of these first encounters changed. It quickly became apparent just how ill prepared both sides were for what we were heading into.

For centuries, Karen had lived in the region the students were now fleeing to and the strength of the KNU offered them a sort of safe-haven. once safe, however, we soon learned about the apparent differences in our goals and ways of life.

The Karen had farmed, established logging and other business practices in order to support a society. For the Karen, the KNU territories were not a temporary safe zone, but rather an integral part of life, history and culture.

Many Burmese students found the experience unfamiliar, challenging, and in some cases unbearable. Rural life was a far cry from a familiar routine of university study.

For these students, the KNU and the shelter they offered were temporary, stop-gap measures necessary only to regroup and work for political change back "home."

The KNU, for its part, was caught off guard. There were differing views on how to receive these fleeing students. And there were practical as well as political and psychological concerns.

The students expected to be received with honor, for they were “fighting for a just cause.” They failed to recognize that the KNU and the Karen people had been fighting for “a just cause” for 40 years.

In time, the divergence between these goals created friction and sometimes conflict.

သူလိုလူ (ဇိုယာငယ္သို ့)

Article -From Thawthikho blog

British MPs Call on Thailand to Stop Threatened Deportations of Karen Refugees

Media Release From Burma Campaign UK

For Immediate Release Wednesday 17th March 2010

British MPs Call on Thailand to Stop Threatened Deportations of Karen Refugees

Thirty-nine British MPs have added their names to a Parliamentary motion calling on Thailand to stop threatening to deport ethnic Karen refugees back to Burma. The motion comes after Thailand started then halted the deportation of Karen refugees last month.

The motion states that the MPs are ‘appalled’ by the fact that Thailand started to deport the refugees, who have fled human rights abuses that the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma has recently said deserve to be investigated as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It also calls on the Thai government to halt harassment of refugees, pressuring them to agree to return, which has continued since the deportations were halted following international criticism.

The motion also calls on the British government: ‘To examine whether the actions of the government of Thailand in forcing refugees to return could break international humanitarian and human rights law.’

“If the Thai government has been hoping that international attention will move on and they can quietly start deporting refugees again, this motion should let them know they are mistaken,” said Mary Thandar Tun, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “Thailand should find a solution to help the refugees that does not involve forcing them back to Burma to face landmines and human rights abuses.”

The motion was put down by Lembit Opik MP.

“The deportation of Karen civilians back to Burma is not only immoral but potentially illegal under international law. If the Thai government sends these people over the border they will literally be sending them to their deaths. The support of thirty-eight MPs from six political parties shows that the UK Parliament is not willing to sit by and watch this happen.” said Lembit Opik, MP.

Thousands of new Karen refugees fled to Thailand following a major new military offensive by the Burmese Army and their allies in June 2009. They have been in temporary camps on the Thailand Burma border since then. Thailand has publicly stated that it will not force the refugees back against their will, but in practice local soldiers and government officials have harassed and threatened the refugees to try to force them to agree to return. A full background briefing is available at:

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/reports/title/thailand-to-force-3000-karen-refugees-back-to-burma

For more information contact Mary Thandar Tun on 44(0) 7853287330. Unfortunately Lembit Opik is not available for interview.

KNU Statement on SPDC’s 2010 Election Law

Mar 16th, 2010

OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS

KAREN NATIONAL UNION

KAWTHOOLEI

1.We the KNU strongly condemn the SPDC military regime for the ‘Election Laws’ dated March 8, 2010, promulgated by the SPDC Chairman Senior Gen. Than Shwe. The Election Laws exclude legitimate leaders of the people, including those of the ethnic organizations, from the elections the SPDC is going to hold in this year, and giving excessive powers to the Election Commission which will be filled with persons handpicked by it.

1.The Laws are totally undemocratic and unfair. By issuing such laws, the SPDC military regime shows once again that it intends to perpetuate the rule of military dictatorship over the country in another guise. The SPDC leaders’ boundless greed for wealth and power has driven them further away from the path of national reconciliation, peace and stability in the country.

1.Non-violent resistance by the people and constructive engagement by the international community have made very little impact on the egregious mind of the SPDC leaders. With their policies based on ultra-racism, expansionism and feudalism, they are relentlessly pushing the entire people into serfdom and the country back to the Dark Ages.

1.For that reason, we call upon the entire people of Burma to continue to resist all the machinations by the SPDC military regime to perpetuate the rule of military dictatorship and to control all the wealth of the country. On the other hand we would like to appeal to the civilized world including EU countries, US, and ASEAN countries etc .to use their freedom and stronger diplomacy to push the SPDC back on the track of national reconciliation, peace, stability and civilization.

Supreme Headquarters

Karen National Union

KNU Press Release on Recommendation of UN Special Rapporteur

KNU St Support Quinterner -

Global Day of Action in UK

Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, KNU Representative in the UK spoke on the Global Day of Action in London

March 9th 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and supporters, thank you for coming to today’s global day of action. As you all know, Karen civilians are being attacked in eastern Burma by the Military Junta. This fact is well documented by independent human rights groups. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has issued a `expression of concern’ regarding the new attacks on the Karen people. The Karen National Union (KNU) does not believe that this alone is an adequate response.

We need the attacks to stop.

Over the years there have been many `expressions of concerns’ by the General Secretary and Presidential Security council statements, none of them have halted the attacks or persuaded the military Junta to enter into genuine dialogue, with the democratic forces in Burma. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma has described the attacks on ethnic peoples in eastern Burma as being a breach of the Geneva Convention. But still the attacks go on.

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) is the only protection Karen civilians have from the Junta’s attacks. Without the KNLA, no humanitarian aid would be able to reach IDPs who are in hiding. Since the regime is blocking aid reaching people who are hiding in the jungle cross-aid is the only way to provide food, medicine and shelter to those on the run from the new attacks. Unlike the dictatorship, the KNU will meet all requirements regarding aid delivery. The KNU would like to make it very clear to the world, we have repeatedly tried to enter into dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the problems in Burma and are ready for any future talks. But the Military Junta demands what amounts to a total and unconditional surrender.

Bwa Bwa Phan addressed the FCO and DFID briefly about the KNU on the Global Day of Action

March 9th 2010.

There are a lot of lies spread about the KNU, so I would like to tell you briefly about my organisation.

We, the Karen National Union (KNU) are a political organisation, founded to represent the Karen people in their struggle to live free from oppression. In 1949 we took up arms to defend our people from attacks, and we have been fighting to defend our people ever since. We democratically elect our leaders, and want a federal democratic Burma in which all the people of Burma can live side by side in peace.

We have a military wing called Karen National Liberated Army (KNLA). They are the only protection Karen civilians have from the Junta’s attacks.

Since the regime is blocking aid reaching people who are hiding in the jungle, cross-aid is the only way to provide food, medicine and shelter to those on the run from the new attacks. We, the KNU, thank the British Government for providing some cross-border aid through Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC). However, the need is huge and immediate. Therefore we ask your government to fund more cross-border aid. Unlike the military dictatorship, the KNU agree to meet all requirements regarding aid delivery.

 Surprisingly, many governments are interested in this coming election planned by the regime. The KNU does not believe that this run up election will bring any changes in Burma . The new constitutions drafted by the military regime guarantee no rights or protection to ethnic nationalities. In fact, it is a death sentence for ethnic diversity in Burma .

A Speech from Naw Pa Saw Htee - KCA UK at Global Day of Action 09.03.2010

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of the Karen Community Association-UK. First of all I would like to thank everyone who is present here today in solidarity.

The reason we are gathered here today is because the Burmese Army is conducting a new wave of attacks towards our fellow Karen in Eastern Burma. Karen communities in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Canada, United States, Australia, Japan, Korea and Malaysia are also participating in this Global Day of action. Even though we can live freely in this country, we too once lived under this brutal regime and feared for our lives. So it breaks our heart to hear such news from our homeland. It is our duty to tell the world and we the Karen in UK have a duty to tell our host country to take action upon these brutal attacks on innocent civilians who do not have arms or ammunitions to defend themselves.

From what we’ve learned so far there has been shooting of villagers on sight, mortar bombing of a school, beheading of one villager, forcing more than 2000 civilians to flee their homes, stopping aids reaching people who are hiding in the jungle, etc. And the list goes on.

If these attacks occur in big cities the international community would be aware of, but because they occurred in the mountains and jungles in the Karen State, Eastern Burma and against our ethnic Karen, no international government has raised their concern or taken any practical action.

That is why we are here today to call upon the UK government to take the following actions:

• Publicly call for an end to attacks against the Karen and other ethnic people in Burma.

• Call on the United Nations Security Council which must demand an immediate end to the attacks, that is breaking the international law.

• Provide funding for cross-border aid, which is the only way to provide food, medicine and shelter to those on the run from the new attacks.

• Express public support for the United Nations setting up a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the Burmese dictatorship.

A dictatorship which is genuine upon reform would not mortar bomb a school full of innocent young children. The fake election due by the end of this year would not bring any change to the country. And we are deeply concern that most of the international community only looks at what is going on with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy; while they keep on ignoring the abuses taking place against ethnic minorities.

This new wave of attacks is linked to the fake election which is due later in this year in Burma, and the dictatorship is trying to crush all the resistance to their rule. They are following the doctrine of the Burmese Army: “ One Blood, One Voice, One Command”. The new constitution drafted by the dictatorship guarantees no rights or protections for the ethnic nationalities. In fact, it is a death sentence for the ethnic diversity in Burma.

Therefore we would like to urge the UK government to take the above actions, which we strongly believe could save lives.

And we would also like to urge you all who are here today to write to your local MPs about the situation in Burma and put pressure on the UK government.

UN Burma Human Rights Expert Backs UN Commission Of Inquiry Into Abuses

Media Release from Burma Campaign UK

For Immediate Release Thursday 11 March

UN Burma Human Rights Expert Backs UN Commission Of Inquiry Into Abuses

The Burma Campaign UK today warmly welcomed a recommendation by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana, that the UN consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

The unprecedented recommendation came in an advance unedited version of his report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, which has been published on their website.

The Special Rapporteur report stated that the ‘gross and systematic’ nature of the abuses and the lack of action to stop them indicated; ‘a state policy that involves authorities in the executive, military and judiciary at all levels.’

It further states; ‘According to consistent reports, the possibility exists that some of these human rights violations may entail categories of crimes against humanity or war crimes under the terms of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.’ ... ‘UN institutions may consider the possibility to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact finding mandate to address the question of international crimes.’

Statement from Karen Communities Worldwide

For Immediate Release March 9th 2010

Karen Communities Worldwide Call for Action to Stop Attacks on Civilians

Karen communities in 10 countries are joining forced for a global day of action on Tuesday 9th March, calling on the international community to take action to stop new attacks by the Burmese Army against Karen civilians. Since mid January more than 2,000 civilians have been forced to flee new attacks.

• Villagers have been shot on site
• A school has been mortar bombed
• One villager has been beheaded
• More than 70 homes have been destroyed
• Schools and health clinics have been burned down
• The regime is stopping aid reaching people who are hiding in the jungle

Karen communities call for immediate practical action to stop the attacks.

• The United Nations Security Council must demand an immediate end to the attacks, which break international law
• Governments, including the European Commission, must provide funding for cross border aid, which is the only way to get food, medicine and shelter to those on the run from the new attacks
• The United Nations should set up a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the dictatorship.

Karen people have been under attack for more than 60 years. The new wave of attacks are linked to fake elections due in Burma later this year. The dictatorship is trying to crush all resistance to their rule. They are following the doctrine of the Burmese Army: ‘One Blood, One Voice, One Command’. The new constitution drafted by the dictatorship gives no rights or protection to ethnic nationalities. It is a death sentence to ethnic diversity in Burma. The international community must stop ignoring what is happening to ethnic people in Burma.

We, the Karen Communities Worldwide want genuine democracy, peace and national reconciliation, but not humiliating and military threats always acted by the State Peace and Development Council regime that destroy all our hope and wishes.

Karen Communities in United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Canada, United States, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Korea are coordinating the day of action, which is being supported by people form Burma and human rights groups.

Contact:
UK – Pa Saw Htee – Karen Community Association UK +447739872481
Australia - Saw Lwin Oo, Australia Karen Organisation +61 4123 44009
Canada – Mahn Kyaw Shwe, Karen Canadian Community +1519-434-0139
Germany – Mahn Aung Lwin, Karen National Community Organisation Germany +491752433418
Norway – Overseas Karen National Organisation +4741847953
USA – Stephen Dun, Karen American Communities Foundation +12062958553

Zoya Phan Honoured As Young Global Leader By World Economic Forum

03 Mar 2010

Media Release From Burma Campaign UK

Zoya Phan Honoured As Young Global Leader By World Economic Forum

Zoya Phan, International Coordinator at Burma Campaign UK, has been honoured as a Young Global leader by the World Economic Forum, famous for its annual meeting of world and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland.

Each year the World Economic Forum recognizes up to 200 people who are under the age of 40 for “their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.”

Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the Young Global Leaders 2010 were chosen by a selection committee chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and comprised of eminent international media leaders.

Announcing the awards, the World Economic Forum stated: “The 2010 honourees will become part of the broader Forum of Young Global Leaders community that currently comprises 660 outstanding individuals. The YGLs convene at an annual summit – this year it will be in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2-7 May 2010, the first time in Africa and the largest ever gathering of YGLs – as well as at Forum events and meetings throughout the year. These events enable YGLs to build a strong and diverse community, to engender a better understanding of the global and regional agendas and to engage in initiatives to address specific challenges of public interest.”

“It is a great encouragement to see such a respected body give recognition of the struggle for freedom and justice in Burma,” said Zoya Phan. “I am delighted and honoured to have been chosen, and hope that it will enable me to do more to raise the profile of the situation in Burma.”

To interview Zoya Phan call 020 7324 4712