KNU President Saw Bo Mya's Speech o

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President Saw Bo Mya's Address to Karen People on 50th Anniversary of Karen
National Day
February 11,1998
Dear All the Karen People,

	We, the Karen people, are the earliest arrivals in this country now known
as Burma. When our earliest forebears arrived in this country, none of the
others, including those known as Tebeto-Burmans, had not yet come into this
country. These earliest Karens had spread out and settled in the valleys of
Blay-lo-klo (Irrawaddy river), Gaw-lo-klo (Sittang river) and Hko-loklo
(Salween river). Then, the country was known as Tee-lar-Gor-lar, or
Kawthoolei. There had been no such things as Chinese border or Thai border. 
When other peoples arrived, they harried the Karens by various means, who
were spread out in small numbers on a large area. Gradually, the Karens had
to give way and moved to safer areas. Even then, we, the Karens nowadays
are living in separate communities with our own areas and leaders in many
places, such as the Irrawaddy delta, Pegu Yoma hills, Toungoo district,
Doo-yor district, in the Eastern Yoma hills, in the border provinces of
western Thailand & so on.  There are many of us and, in fact, we are not a
minor people. The first who dominated the Karen people by force were the
Mon and the second were the Burman feudal lords. A large part of the Karen
people had to live under their oppressive domination and harassment, for
many centuries. Oral histories handed down to us by our forefathers tell us
about severe repression and persecution.
	After the Burman feudal lords, came the British overlords who started to
set up boundaries. As a result, Karens are found on both sides of the
Thai-Burma border. The coming of American Christian Missionaries,
particularly during the British rule, brought the benefits of modern
education and the invention of a  modern written language of the Karen. The
Karens in general cooperated with the British. The Burman generally saw
this as collaboration with the enemy, and the Burmans of extremist
persuasion held deep malice and rabid hostility against the Karens. Due to
this perception, the Burma Independence Army, which cooperated with the
Japanese occupiers during World War II, subjected a large number of Karens
to extreme  atrocities, in many areas, such as Bassein, Myaungmya, Einme,
eastern Papun district and etc.,. 
	During the struggle for independence, after WW II, the independence hero,
Gen. Aung San, reached agreement with the leaders of other nationalities to
establish a genuine federal state of Burma and to let the other
nationalities to secede from the union if they found it unsatisfactory,
after a period of 10 years. After his untimely death, power passed into the
hands of  racist chauvinists among the AFPFL leadership and military
leaders like Gen. Ne Win and his cohorts. 
Dear All the  Karen People,

	As the KNU is an organization that stands firmly for the freedom of Karen
people, it resolutely opposes all activities aimed at damaging or being
hostile to the dignity and destiny of the Karen people, and it has
resolutely been striving in the interest and freedom of the Karen people.
The KNU gives political leadership to the Karen people and the Karen
National Liberation Army. It had endeavored, by peaceful means, to gain the
rights and freedom of the Karen people, and equality for all the
nationalities in the country. However, the party in power, the AFPFL,
instead of resolving the political problems by political means, resorted to
brute force and armed suppression, which had ignited the civil war.
	Though armed conflict had arisen between the KNU and AFPFL, the KNU had
always tried to settle the problem of Karen people by political means and
restore peace in the country. During the AFPFL rule, the KNU met with U Nu
and he asked for the surrender of arms. Again, during the time of the
Revolutionary Council, the KNU tried again to settle the problems by
peaceful means. Again, the KNU was asked to lay down arms, unilaterally.
Similarly, the KNU tried again for a peaceful settlement with the SLORC.
Representatives of both sides met formally for 4 times and informally for 3
times. Again the SLORC demanded for a unilateral surrender of arms, and
when the KNU did not accept their demand, they launched a major offensive.   
	It is the policy of the KNU to strive for a genuine and lasting peace. It
is not against peace and unity, and it is not for separatism. Our aim for
establishing a federal union does not mean separatism. The objectives of
the KNU are that, the Karens, as a separate nationality, are to have equal
rights as the others. Though the SLORC called for unity, it had never
accepted federalism, and had used military force to set up a unitary state.
Like the SLORC, the current SPDC embraces racist chauvinist ideology, and
tries to divide us by various means. They try to intimidate us by barbaric
military attacks and use sweet words to sow dissension among us. Therefore,
we must always be on the alert against such trickery. Do not give in to the
temptation of provincialism, self-interest and the interest of a group or a
faction. Let us always strive for the interest of the whole Karen people. 
	   The KNU has been actively struggling for the freedom of the Karen
people for nearly 50 years now. The KNU has never wavered in its faith and
has always stood firmly on its principles, policies and programs laid down.
Whatever the difficulties and the hardships, it will continue to stand
firmly for the freedom of the Karen people. Therefore, do not let
yourselves be assailed by doubts and fear. Let us stand up unitedly under
the banner of the KNU, hold our hands together and follow the leadership of
the KNU. Struggle on together, with unity and courage, for the freedom of
the Karen people. Unity is Strength. Victory is Ours!

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