KNU STATEMENT REGARDING CASE OF GEN

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Subject: KNU STATEMENT REGARDING CASE OF GEN. MAUNG AYE AND GROUP STEPPING UNDERFOOT THE KAREN NATIONAL FLAG 

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	O F F I C E   O F   T H E   S U P R E M E   H E A D Q U A R T E R S  
		K A R E N    N A T I O N A L    U N I O N
			K A W T H O O L E I
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KNU Statement regarding the Case of Gen. Maung Aye and Group Stepping Underfoot the Karan National Flag



At the surrender ceremony of the 16th Bn. Commander of the KNU, Thumu Heh, in Kuaikdon, the SLORC Gen. Maung Aye:

1. Made Thumu Hen to knee in front of SLORC leaders and apologise for his past mistakes,

2. Step underfoot the Karen national flag laid down on the ground.

It is not something unusual for Thumu Heh, who had surrendered to the fascist military dictatorship of the SLORC, to perform the humiliating rite. We are certain that he will be further humiliated by the SLORC in the future.

However, the stepping underfoot of the Karen national which is held as a sacred symbol by the entire Karen people, by SLORC Gen. Maung Aye and his entourage, in public, demonstrates the vileness and the true nature of the SLORC. This incident also proves 
beyond all doubt that the SLORC;

(1) Regards the entire Karen people as its enemy;

(2) Regards all the oppressed nationalities as its enemy, as it does towards the Karen            people,

(3) Has no intention to resolve the political problems of the country by peaceful means and that it is politically bankrupt.

Dear Karen Resistance Fighters and the Entire Karen People,

We, the KNU, have held four rounds of talks with the SLORC, with the intention of resolving political problems by peaceful means and bearing in mind the basic and just interest of the Karen people as well as the interest of the entire people of the countr
y. In the talks, the KNU had proposed for a cease-fire and resolution of political problems, that had been the underlying causes of the civil war and instability through dialogue. However the SLORC just heinously demanded the KNU to return to the legal fo
ld or, in other words, to submit to its fascist domination. Without formally replying the KNU's request for the 5th round of talks, the SLORC unilaterally abrogated the dialogue process and wickedly launched a large-scale military offensive against the KN
U and the karen people. As usual, the SLORC troops perpetrate, daily, atrocities against Karen civilians, such as arbitrary arrest, torture, execution, rape of women, forced labour, burning down villages and etc.., at a higher rate, in the offensive. Now,
 to crown their wanton acts, the SLORC leaders publicly step underfoot the Karen national flag which is held in high respect by the entire Karen people. Therefore, we, the KNU call upon the entire Karen people:

(1) To resolutely oppose and fight until the annihilation of the SLORC military dictatorship, bearing in mind the exhortation "for the Karen people, surrender is out of the question," made by our heroic leader Saw Ba U Gyi;

(2) To unite absolutely, without discrimination as to dialects, religious creeds, regions or ideological differences;

(3) To continue the struggle for freedom and democracy by joining hands with all the anti-SLORC forces.

* Domination of the fascist SLORC must fall!
* The Just Resistance of the Karen People Shall triumph!



Central Executive Committee

March 3, 1997