Divide and rule: We can work it out says KNU

Although two commanders of the 7th Brigade of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNU) and of GHQ Battalions said recently that they will no longer heed any ‘statement’ or ‘order’ coming from certain unnamed leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU), KNU leaders and their Burmese allies said that they can work out their differences by peaceful means.
In a joint announcement issued on Sunday, the two commanders, Brig-Gen Htain Maung and the Tactical Commander of GHQ Battalions, Col Ner Dah Mya, son of Gen Bo Mya, head of the KNU Defense Department, accused ‘some leaders’ elected to the KNU central committee at last year’s 13th congress of corruption.
“Using their important positions and ‘Karen national affair’ as a tool [or] as stepping-stone, they have been accepting various ways of bribery from different groups and individuals for their sake of own personal interest,” said the statement.
The announcement charged the unnamed KNU leaders of abandoning Karen national interests, clinging to power by all means, placing corrupt individuals onto the central committee—and also claimed they ‘eliminate anyone, by all means, who notices [or] realized the way they corrupt, and [who] tried to correct it.’
“There have been many (incidents of the) spreading of the propaganda of General Mya being sacked, (or) General Mya being forced to retire,” said KNU General Secretary and spokesman Phado Mahn Sha. “None of them is true. Many people know that General Mya is receiving medical treatments because his health is not good. Therefore, we, the leaders said that it would be good for him to get a medical (sick) leave for his treatments, but we didn’t announce it officially. Now, General Mya himself said that he doesn’t want sick leave and we gave him no sick leave. Therefore, people are saying many things about this matter but I want to say that none is true. Another thing, I heard that they alleged the Karen leaders are abandoning our national interests. The Karen national revolution is still surviving strongly to this day because the current Karen revolution leaders have been serving the Karen revolution and Karen national interests firmly and righteously. Therefore, I want to say that their accusations are very wrong.”
Mahn Sha added that the problem between KNU HQs and Brigade-7 will be ‘corrected’ by means of cooperation.
“In fact, we accept that the Karen revolution is part of Burma’s revolution. Democracy affair and national affairs are connected. As it is thus, if some thing happens to the Karen revolution, it is sure that there would be a stop to the whole of Burmese revolution. As it is so, there are things we are trying to make the Karen revolution correct and stand firmly. We know our duties. We will fulfil our duties strongly. Another thing, the commanders themselves said that they will follow the four principles of Saw Ba Oo Gyi (the first modern Karen national leader). If they stand firmly on what they say, there is no reason they can’t negotiate and cooperate with the (KNU) HQs. Therefore, we believe that we will be able to carry out negotiations.”
At the same time, KNU’s pro-democracy allies based on the Thai-Burmese border said that the KNU central committee members will be able to solve the quarrel by peaceful means.
“We all believe and accept that the role of the KNU is very important on the path of Burmese revolution,” said the joint secretary of National League for Democracy – Liberated Areas (NLD) Myint Thein. “If you asked me if the resulting political situations from (this) KNU problem could have ramifications on the situations in the liberated areas on the border, I have to say that they could. As far as we believe, the KNU is aware of this. If you look at more than 50 years long journey, the KNU has been able to control these matters strongly. Therefore, we believe that the leaders concerned will try to return to the controllable situation by holding the best plans.”
A number of KNLA military leaders said on Monday they knew nothing of the instruction to ignore statements or orders emanating from the KNU. A 7th Brigade colonel said orders from the KNU leadership would still be followed. Tension between the KNU leadership and the KNLA has been growing since General Mya was arranged to meet the SPDC’s Col Myat Htun Oo in the Thai-Burmese border town of Mae Sot in mid-July without the agreement of the KNU central committee, other reports said.
Observers said that the latest crisis in the KNU could be the result of the SPDC’s insidious divide-and-rule political campaign exploiting the weaknesses of the former. The KNU was also split along religious lines in early 1990s resulting in the losses of many vital territories.

Aug 01, 2006 (DVB)
Images: (Top) General Bo Mya (left) and Nerdah Mya (centre) Martyr's Day 2004 - KHCPS Archive
(bottom) U Myint Thein at Waley Kee 2002 - Paul Keenan - KHCPS Archive

Tensions flare between KNU and KNLA

The release of an announcement by the 7th brigade of the Karen National Liberation Army—the armed wing of the Karen National Union—has caused speculation of a rift through the ethnic insurgent group.
A statement signed by KNLA 7th brigade commander brigadier general Htain Maung and the tactical commander of the GHQ battalion, colonel Ner Dah Mya, accusing the leaders of the KNU of corruption was released yesterday.
Rumours of a split within the group first spread after ailing KNU leader general Saw Bo Mya was reported to have met Burmese intelligence officer colonel Myat Tun Oo on July 15.
While the KNLA were not available for comment today, general secretary of the KNU Padoh Mahn Shar spoke to Mizzima about the announcement.

Can you tell us about the statement released by the KNLA’s 7th brigade?
No one seems to know much about the announcement. Even the KNU commanders do not seem to know about it.

Did the 7th brigade send a copy of the announcement to the KNU headquarters?
No, they did not send the announcement to us. We got it from news agencies.

What is the cause of the current tension in the KNU?
There are a few points that they have mentioned in their announcement. They said the leaders want to stay in their present positions forever, and choose only people who they favour to be members of the central committee; the leaders would expel cadres who know of what they are doing; leaders are trying to form their own groups within the KNU; and the leaders are exploiting and deceiving the armed wing.
We reject all of these. In electing someone to be a leader, we have certain procedures and rules and regulations. In the KNU, no one leader is forever. All leaders are elected and chosen from the army. There are also people who are not chosen by the army. But if someone violates the KNU rule and regulations for example if they surrender to the enemy, and if they violate the rules and regulations, appropriate actions are taken according to the KNU rules and regulations.
And their accusation that the leaders are manipulating the armed wing is also false. There is no leader that is manipulating the armed wing. Among our leaders there are about three people who are over the age of 80. There is also a group who are playing in between to create confusion among the group. But among the leaders there is no one who is deceiving or manipulating the army. And their accusation of the leaders being forming groups among the KNU is also baseless.

How does the KNU central committee intend to resolve this issue?
We have to discuss among the central committee about this, among the leaders and resolve the problem. In discussing, we have rules and regulations. We will have to discuss and negotiate.

Why do you think the 7th brigade did not send a copy of its statement to the central committee?
We don't know about that—you will have to ask them. Our responsibilities are to continue standing firm on our policy. We will continue standing on our rules and regulations. We can not enlarge the problems by recognising this is their stand and that is our stand, we will have to maintain a common policy.

Will the KNU act on the allegations made in the statement?
The leaders will have to discuss and think over it according to our rules and regulations. This is an internal affair and we will not disclose it to any body.

Is there anything else you would like to say about the announcement?
There is a lot to say. If we look at our KNU we only have one enemy that is the Burmese military regime. We will not tolerate other deceitful people to come and divide our unity. And lastly, upon the turns of events, I want to urge all the Karens to be alert politically and possess nationalism.

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
July 31, 2006

KNLA Commanders Accuse Unnamed KNU Leaders

The commanders of the 7th Brigade of the Karen National Liberation Army and of GHQ Battalions have said they will no longer heed any “statement” or “order” coming from certain unnamed leaders of the Karen National Union.
In a joint announcement issued on Sunday, the two commanders accused “some leaders” elected to the KNU central committee at last year’s 13th congress of corruption.
“Using their important positions and ‘Karen national affair’ as a tool [or] as stepping-stone, they have been accepting various ways of bribery from different groups and individuals for their sake of own personal interest.”
The announcement charged the unnamed KNU leaders of abandoning Karen national interests, clinging to power by all means, placing corrupt individuals onto the central committee—and also claimed they “eliminate anyone, by all means, who notices [or] realized the way they corrupt, and [who] tried to correct it.”
The announcement was signed by KNU 7th Brigade Commander Brig-Gen Htain Maung and the Tactical Commander of GHQ Battalions, Col Ner Dah Mya, son of Gen Bo Mya, head of the KNU Defense Department. They were unavailable for comment on Monday. A KNU official said the announcement was “not appropriate with our policy.”
The attacked leaders were also accused of accepting bribes to issue “statements” and “orders” which had nothing to do with the “reality on the ground.”
As a consequence, the announcement said, “the KNLA Nr 7 Brigade and the GHQ Battalions will no longer recognize any of [the] so-called ‘statements’ or ‘orders’ influenced by those self-interested individuals who use the Karen national affair as their tool for personal benefit.”
A number of KNLA military leaders said on Monday they knew nothing of the instruction to ignore statements or orders emanating from the KNU. A 7th Brigade colonel said orders from the KNU leadership would still be followed.
Tension between the KNU leadership and the KNLA has been growing since Gen Bo Mya met the regime’s Col Myat Htun Oo in the Thai-Burmese border town of Mae Sot in mid-July without the agreement of the KNU central committee.

KNU and KNPP form JAC to help victims of Burma Army's terror campaigns

Burma’s two main armed ethnic national groups, the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) held a top secret meeting at an unidentified ‘liberated area’ on the Thai-Burmese border on 19 July, to form a joint action committee.
The two groups, which are still fighting the Pyinmana/Rangoon government, also issued a statement denouncing the inhumane and cruel military offensives against indigenous people in Karen and Karenni (Kayah) States of the ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) pushing the latter out of their ancestral homes and considerably deteriorating the political situation in Burma.
The KNU-KNPP Joint Action Committee (JAC) was formed in response to the terror campaigns waged against the Karen and Karenni civilians and to help those who are fleeing from their homes and hiding in the jungles. The committee is to be actively carrying out their missions at KNU Brigades 2 & 5 regions in Taungoo District in eastern central Burma and KNPP’s Mawchi region bordering the Karen State.
“The committee will include military (operations) and rescues,” KNPP General Secretary and spokesman Rimond (Raymond) Htoo told DVB. “And education and health will be included in the rescue section. (In the past), when something happened they (KNU & KNPP members) had to ask (permissions and advice from) the HQs. (Now), they do not have to ask the HQs, they can carry out their (missions) by having consultations among themselves while the refugees are running. It is the same with military operations. They have to do these two things mainly. Before, Joint Operation Committee was for military purpose only. As I said before, we formed the Joint Action Committee, JAC, because the people are running here and there.”

DVB
Jul 23, 2006

Clarification on Recent Efforts to Forge a Non-KNU Ceasefire

Following various diverging reports over the past few weeks on the lead-up to, and circumstances surrounding, General Bo Mya’s planned trip to Rangoon to “seek medical treatment”, the authors would like to provide a detailed account of the events and those behind the initiative in order to dispel confusion and correct any misinformation.

This latest attempt to forge some form of agreement with the SPDC was once again initiated by members of the same loose grouping of Karens which has previously made unilateral efforts to bring around a ceasefire without the endorsement of the KNU. They are acting autonomously in defiance of the elected KNU leadership in the belief that the current administration lacks the strength and vision to adopt new strategies in order to bring around a semblance of peace in Karen State, with development of local infrastructure and greater opportunities for common people to enjoy improved security and livelihoods.

On Wednesday, 28th June, 2006, several of these self-appointed Karen “representatives” including Saw Tennyson met with Myat Htun Oo, liaison representative of the SPDC, in Myawaddy to discuss logistics for Gen. Bo Mya’s travelling to Rangoon.

A few days later, members of this same grouping including Tennyson, Timothy and Ner Dah met with a delegation of the SPDC headed by Col. Tin Soe, the Burmese military attaché to Bangkok, at a hotel in the capital. A member of the group stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the nature and schedule of the ceasefire talks. They were preliminarily planned for the following week in Rangoon (i.e. the first week of July). The Burmese Embassy provided these Karens with (300,000) Baht in order to facilitate Gen. Bo Mya’s trip to Rangoon. The authors are of the belief that these funds were handed over by the SPDC delegation during this meeting.

By Sunday, the 9th of July, various interested parties in addition to Myat Htun Oo had also arrived in Mae Sot to help facilitate the General’s trip to Rangoon. These included Dr. Simon Tha and his wife, Dr. Rebecca, Dr. Paw Paw (the wife of Saw Plah Htoo), and pastor Saw Shee Lay. They traveled from Rangoon by plane and official visa through Bangkok. Due to the controversial nature of the General’s trip, Dr. Simon Tha covered this true purpose of his arrival in Mae Sot by purporting to come to Mae Sot in connection to the mobile clinic services that he is supporting in the border areas including, interestingly enough, the Koke Ko area – controlled by the DKBA’s 999th Special Battalion. This was, however, only a ploy to protect his reputation from his real motives to assist Saw Tennyson and his accomplices’ unsanctioned efforts to forge a ceasefire with the SPDC.

On Sunday, the 9th, it was learnt that Gen. Bo Mya’s trip to Rangoon was to start the following day – Monday, the 10th – with him being escorted to Bangkok. Acting on this information, officials from the KNU leadership contacted the “Chor Khor” Special Task Force in Mae Sot to explore possibilities of them being able to intervene and prevent this unsanctioned initiative from being accomplished. They were met with a negative response, with a Task Force officer citing “orders from above” that had already been issued (i.e. to the effect that the trip must not be disrupted).

The following morning, preparations had already been made to the point that the General’s wheelchair had already been loaded into the back of the car that was to take him to the capital. His escorts were just waiting for the Defense Minister to rise from a morning sleep. However, when the General did wake up, he awoke in a quite lucid frame of mind (due to Gen. Bo Mya’s health condition, it is common for his states of mind to shift – sometimes he is very coherent, at other times he is less so). He seemed to realise the true nature of what he was about to embark on and stated repeatedly, “Ah mah kan, aah?” (roughly translated, meaning “Can you guarantee this?”). He then said, “Ah mah kan may thay, mer Than Shwe heh ot ler ya law!” (“If you can guarantee this, ask Than Shwe to come and live in my place!”). “Mah thee th’waw poe t’rgay!” (“Don’t kill the villagers!”). “Ler khee, heh naw t’blaw t’rgay!” (“In the future, never come again!”).

The first cracks in the defiant Karens’ plans to forge an unsanctioned ceasefire were showing.

Meanwhile in Bangkok, Gen. Wichit of the Royal Thai Army learned of the Tatmadaw plane that had already arrived from Burma and was waiting to transport the Karen “delegation” to Rangoon. Previously, he had sanctioned Gen. Bo Mya’s trip to Bangkok, as he was misled into believing that the General was to seek medical care in the Thai capital, not in Burma. Gen. Wichit was quite surprised upon hearing of the Burmese plane’s presence, and in response informed the Special Task Force (which had previously been ordered not to disrupt the General’s trip to Bangkok) not to allow the General entourage to travel to the capital.

The unauthorised plans to escort Gen. Bo Mya to Rangoon to forge a ceasefire with the SPDC had been dealt a second and fatal blow. The unaccountable grouping of defiant Karens and their Burmese cohorts would no doubt want to try and find another way.

Following the breakdown in the arrangements, their initiators’ consequential disappointment, and the large sums of money invested in the initiative’s logistics, on Friday, 14th July, Myat Htun Oo and his Karen cohorts, including Dr. Simon Tha and Dr. Rebecca, went to the Thai village of Ka Neh Chu, 40 kms north of Mae Sot to meet with battalion commanders of the KNLA’s 7th Brigade. All 7th Brigade battalion commanders attended the meeting, although the Brigade Commander himself – Brig. Gen. Htain Maung – was not present.

The focus of Myat Htun Oo’s approach during the meeting was aimed at exploring the possibilities of negotiating a ceasefire in the 7th Brigade area (Pa’an District), however, the battalion commanders’ response to Myat Htun Oo and his party was that, if the SPDC wanted to continue efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the area, then they would have to go through the official channels of the central KNU. This again put a stop to efforts to revitalise their plans.

During this time, Myat Htun Oo also proposed that he be able to meet with three senior military-focused members of the KNU – Gen. Mu Tu, Gen. K’Hser Doh and Brig. Gen. Htain Maung. He was subsequently informed that any representation from the SPDC with regard to ceasefire negotiations must be directed to Padoh Mahn Sha and Padoh Htoo Htoo Lay, as they are the officials formally responsible for such matters.

On Thursday, the 13th July, the KNU issued a directive to brigade and district level officials, stating that the SPDC and Pastor Timothy are working together and are trying to find many ways to divide and factionalise the KNU. The officials were instructed that, if any of these men or their accomplices contact them in regard to any issue surrounding a possible ceasefire, they must report it immediately to SHQ (Supreme Head Quarters).

Myat Htun Oo returned to Burma on Sunday, the 16th July.

Although efforts so far to initiate a non-KNU-sanctioned ceasefire have been thwarted, it is clear that further initiatives to restart the process will continue to be explored by this loose grouping of influential, yet isolated Karens. It is imperative that all of us remain vigilant and do not lend support to these efforts. It is unfortunate that these individuals are attempting to secure peace in our lands through illegitimate means – not only in disregard to our mother organization, and showing deep disrespect for our just and historical struggle – but also with questionable motives involving their own personal and business interests. What is worse is that these initiatives are taking place just at a time when the SPDC is trying to factionalise all groups still resisting the regime, in order to legitimise their efforts for “national reconciliation” in advance of the resumption of the bogus National Convention. Do not be led by the blind. 

Kawthoolei Times
23rd July 2006
Image: Nerdah Mya speaking at Karen New Year 2005, Lorenzo DeGregorio - KHCPS Archive

Trade in Karen State Stifled by Arrests

Business in Pa-an, the capital of Burma’s eastern Karen State, and Myawaddy, a town bordering Thailand’s Tak province, has been at a standstill since several traders there were reportedly arrested this week.
Local business sources say the dislocation of trade follows the arrival of several new military officers from Naypyidaw, the junta’s new capital.  Since the arrests in both towns other merchants and traders based in Myawaddy have fled and border trading has dropped dramatically as a result.
Banpot Korkietcharoen, of Thailand’s Tak Chamber of Commerce, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that the value of trade at the Mae Sot-Myawaddy crossing had already dropped because of new restrictions on Thai products. “Thai traders here are scared to export their goods nowadays because Burmese officials crack down on Thai products,” he said.
According to local traders, most businesses in Pa-an and Myawaddy, including gold shops and money exchanges, were shut down and goods from Thailand seized.
Mae Sot-Myawaddy is one of four trading points between Burma and Thailand. The value of trade there usually reaches about US $10 million a year, according to the Tak Chamber of Commerce.
The arrests are the biggest since May when a number of traders and officials from the Burmese Department of Border Trade and the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue at Muse, on the Burmese border with China’s Yunnan province, were detained. They are now understood to be under military investigation.
Since then, border trading between Yunnan and Burma has dropped to 10 percent of normal, local businesspeople said. Yunnan's exports to Burma usually total about $400 million a year, while its imports from Burma total $230 million, according to Chinese official statistics.
Observers said the arrests are part of a regime crackdown on corruption among senior customs officials, including the department Director-General Col Khin Maung Lin, who has reportedly been detained in Rangoon’s Insein prison. The sources also said that since the arrests dozens of shipping containers have been impounded in Rangoon port.
Meanwhile, a large Chinese trade delegation led by Yunnan’s Vice-Governor Liu Ping, has arrived in Burma on a five-day visit “to promote bilateral economic and trade ties,” said the Chinese official news agency Xinhua.
The 49-member delegation met the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Rangoon and Burmese officials “who are concerned to seek further cooperation between the province and Myanmar [Burma].”

By Yeni
July 26, 2006
The Irrawaddy

Image: Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge - File Photo

Ten-member armed group of God Army led by Johnny Tu returns to legal fold

A nine-member armed group of God Army with its base in the other country led by Johnny Tu returned to the legal fold at a Tatmadaw camp in the area of the Coastal Region Command, bringing along with them two AK-47 automatic rifles, two magazines, 60 rounds of ammunition and one AR-15 on 17 July, and so did private Saw Sho from the group, bringing along with him one M-16 automatic rifle, one magazine, 40 rounds of ammunition, one Carbine, one magazine, 30 rounds of ammunition and one M-17 hand grenade on 19 July.

The eight members who returned to the legal fold together with Johnny Tu are Phugaw with the rank of company commander (organizer), Saw Le Htoo with the rank of company commander (office in charge), Khon Pha with the rank of supply and transport in charge, Saw Kye Khu with the rank of Corporal, Saw Nay Tu with the rank of Lance-Corporal, medic Saw Do, private Saw L She and private Saw Lu.
They left Khalaw Khani refugee camp in the other country on 13 July and returned to the legal fold at the Tatmadaw camp.
They have done so as they do not want to be bullied by other insurgent groups, realize the goodwill of the State, the people and the Tatmadaw and the endeavours of the government for national development and want to take part in regional development tasks, living with their families and relatives with peace of mind.

Those who returned to the legal fold were accorded a warm welcome by the local regiment and officials concerned and provided with all the requirements. And there remain armed groups who want to follow suit, it is learnt.

New Light of Myanmar
25/07/06

Growing Disunity among Karen Opposition Leaders

Tensions have increased between leaders of the Karen National Union and its military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, after members of the opposition group met secretly with Burmese government officials in Thailand, sources in Karen State told The Irrawaddy on Friday.
Burmese intelligence official Col Myat Htun Oo and KNU leader Gen Bo Mya met briefly on July 15 in Mae Sot to discuss future ceasefire negotiations, but sources say no commitment was reached.
The meeting is said to have raised conflicts between civilian KNU leaders and factions within the KNLA. Some Karen leaders said the meeting was not official and took place without the knowledge of the KNU Executive Committee.
Others among the Karen civilian leadership believe the meeting to be part of a secret agenda by the Burmese junta to create divisions among Karen opposition leaders.
This view was rejected by Pastor Timothy Laklem, a former member of the KNU foreign affairs department, who said that the regime has no intention of dividing the Karen leadership.
Pastor Timothy, a controversial Karen peace broker who was dismissed by the KNU last year, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that he met Myat Htun Oo on June 21 in Myawaddy, across the border from Mae Sot in Burma, to urge the regime to stop its deadly campaign against Karen civilian populations.
Burmese soldiers began a violent campaign against the Karen in Pegu Division and in Karen State in November 2005. The attacks sent thousands of villagers fleeing to the Thai border to escape the violence.
According to the Free Burma Rangers, a covert relief organization operating in Burma, the military government initiated new attacks in Nyaunglebin District, western Karen State, on July 15 that have left villagers dead, incarcerated or compelled into forced labor.
Pastor Timothy, who no longer represents the Karen in an official capacity, blames KNU leaders for the attacks by Burmese forces, saying that a bomb attack in Pegu Division—ordered, he claims, by Mahn Sha, the group’s general secretary—incurred the wrath of the Burmese army.
Junta representatives, according to Pastor Timothy, want to establish ties between Burmese troops and those of the KNLA, as soldiers can better understand each other. He added that Karen troops are ready for peace talks, and if civilian Karen leaders disagree, greater divisions could occur in the future.
Mahn Sha dismissed Pastor Timothy’s claims, saying that he is simply toeing the junta’s line. “Timothy is no longer a member of the KNU. His loyalties are with the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council],” he said.
A senior KNLA leader told The Irrawaddy on Friday that Karen soldiers are not looking for peace talks at any cost, but are fully prepared to continue the fight. “We are under control,” the leader said.

By Shah Paung
Irrawaddy
July 21, 2006
Image KHCPS-Archive

No peace talks until military stops violence, says KNU

The Karen National Union has ruled out the possibility of peace talks with the Burmese military despite an unofficial offer for dialogue, saying the State Peace and Development Council needed to first stop attacking Karen civilians.

David Taw, head of the KNU’s foreign affairs department, told Mizzima today that while personnel Lieutenant colonel Mya Htun Oo had offered peace talks to leaders at one of the rebel group’s brigade on the Thai-Burma border on Friday, no agreements would be made until the military stopped their offensives in Karen State.
“Over 20,000 ethnic Karen civilians have been forced to leave their villages and seek shelter in the jungle and in the border areas due to the recent offensive attack,” David Taw said.
He also said that the visit by Mya Htun Oo was not acceptable since it had not been officially sanctioned by authorities in Nay Pyi Daw.
“It is just fake offer by the SPDC, their words and deeds always contradict each other . . . we have experienced this before,” David Taw said.
The KNU has also rejected the military’s offer to allow general Bo Mya, who suffers from severe diabetes, to receive medical treatment in Rangoon.

Nem Davies
Mizzima News
18 Jul 2006
Image: David Taw - KHCPS Archive  

The KNU orders troops to report about ceasefire mediators

The KNU has ordered its troops to report possible contacts of Saw Timothy and Dr Simon Thar on ceasefire negotiations with the SPDC.

The KNU Central Committee has assigned Col. Soe Soe to talk with the Burmese military and it should go through this process said David Taw of the KNU.

BBC
Burmese Language Service
19-07-06

Burmese army spy meets ailing Karen leader

A team of Burmese officials led by intelligence officer Lt-Col Myat Htun Oo met with some Karen National Union (KNU) leaders including ailing Gen Bo Mya last Saturday at an unidentified location on the Thai-Burmese border.
”(Myat Htun Oo) came to enquire the health of General Mya. It was a social visit, not for a political discussion,” KNU General-Secretary Phado Mahn Sha told DVB. “General Mya’s health is not good. He can’t speak much. As far as I know, he told (his guests) that the offensives against, the killings and expelling of our Karen nationals, people are very dire actions, and that we are not fighting to infringe on the rights of other nationals. We are demanding the rights of Karen nationals, he said. He stopped after saying that.” Bo Mya, 79, has been suffering from severe diabetes. When asked if the meeting would reignite the stalled peace talks between the KNU and the ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Mahn Sha said: “The path they took this time doesn’t seem to indicate that way. The reason is they are walking on the path arranged by someone we expelled (from the KNU) and it is an unofficial/illegal path. If it is a true approach, first they must stop, withdraw the massive offensives against us. Another thing – to communicate (with each other) through the assigned path for the right approach. As we see none of the two signs now, it is not the right path. We regard this kind of form as coming to divide us from within. It won’t work this way.” Mahn Sha added that if the junta wants to carry out genuine dialogues, it must not only stop the military offensives against the Karen but also release all political prisoners including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, unconditionally.

DVB
Jul 17, 2006
Image KHCPS Archive

KNU Leader Meets Burmese Intel Official

Ailing Karen National Union leader Gen Bo Mya met Burmese intelligence official Col Myat Htun Oo yesterday, according to sources along the Thai-Burmese border.
The meeting is said to have been arranged by Col Ner Dah Mya, son of Bo Mya, and lasted only a few minutes.
Bo Mya, 79, who suffers from severe diabetes is said to have been compelled to attend the meeting with Myat Htun Oo by his son, according to sources along the border. Ner Dah Mya was unavailable for comment on Monday. KNU Executive Committee members and other group leaders were unaware of Sunday’s meeting, said David Taw, head of KNU’s foreign affairs department.

Ner Dah Mya met Burmese government officials at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok on June 28 and is said to have received 300,000 baht (about US $8,000) to pay for travel by Bo Mya to Rangoon, where he has been offered medical treatment.
Junta officials also sent a medical team, led by Dr Simon Thar—a Rangoon-based physician—to prepare Bo Mya for travel. However, the offer was subsequently refused.
Sources along the border say that junta overtures to Bo Mya began the delivery of a letter from the KNU suggesting that the armed ethnic opposition group may be willing to surrender to Rangoon. KNU leaders claim no knowledge of such a letter, according to David Taw, and will attempt to determine who might have sent it.

In 2004, a delegation from the KNU—led by Bo Mya—visited Rangoon for ceasefire talks. No formal ceasefire was reached, but both sides confirmed a gentleman’s agreement to end hostilities. The Burmese military, however, has continued to target Karen villages in contravention of the agreement. [see 'Invitation of Karen Rebel Leader Turned Down']

Shah Paung
Irrawaddy
July 17, 2006

Images: General Bo Mya(top), Nerdah Mya (bottom) - KHCPS Archive

New Thai-Burmese border road planned

The Thai government is planning to build a Burmese road which would cut through Karen State. The idea is not only to cut travel time in the area but to benefit Karen contract farmers, provide employment and stem Karen migration to Thailand.

The 140-million baht (US $3.66 million) plan is to be proposed to the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, where the Burmese government will be asked to cooperate.
The planned road would start south of the border town of Mae Sot, in Tak province, at Valley village in Pob Phra and then travel 28 kilometres cutting through Karen State to Nong Loung village in Umphang district, also in Tak. It would mean using two fords across a loop in the narrow Moei River.
“We expect that the new road will shorten traveling time from Mae Sot to Umphang by four hours, to take only two hours,” Watchara Taengcham, director of Tak’s provincial road construction centre, told The Irrawaddy.
The road would also support more than 32,000 hectares of contract farming land. This, Watchara said, could provide jobs “and stop worker migration to Thailand.”
The original plan was to route the road through Umphang Wild Life Sanctuary, which also crosses into Karen State. But this was opposed by environmentalists and local villagers, as the sanctuary is a World Heritage site.
Meanwhile, the Karen National Union insurgent group is complaining about plans to extend a new crossing from Mae Sot to Myawaddy to carry on to Kawkareik, in Karen State, because it veers from the current route and allegedly would threaten the security and environment of Karen people living in the area.

KNU demands Thai Halts Construction of Road

Construction of a road near the border in Burma, opposite Tak’s Mae Sot district, is facing strong resistance from the Karen National Union (KNU). Wachara Taengcham, chief of Tak’s Second Tak Highway Office, said a group claiming to be part of the KNU has demanded that Thai workers and engineers halt construction for their own safety.

‘’The rebel group claimed the road link would aggravate the suppression of Karen minorities along the border,'’ he said.

A request from Bangkok to the Burmese government to provide security for the workers was met with silence, he said.

Thailand has already financed the 118.2-million-baht construction of the 17.35km Myawaddy-Tingganyinaung road, which was opened in May. The route forms part of the East-West Corridor Development Programme.

It has also provided a 500-million-baht grant to extend the route by 40km from Tingganyinaung to Kawkareik, to serve increasing border trade, tourism and industry in both countries. The new route would replace an old road which cuts through the Dawna mountain. It is being surveyed by CVS 1995 Consultant.

Mr Wachara said the second phase of the project will join a 182km road to be built by Burma linking Kawkareik and Pa-an, the Karen state capital, and Thaton district, and connecting with the Moulmein-Pegu route that leads to Rangoon. Burma is seeking a two-billion-baht loan from the Asian Development Bank for its construction.

KNU general-secretary Mahn Shar Laphan insisted that work on the new section should be halted until a cease-fire is reached with the Burmese government.

The road would encourage forest encroachment and make it easier for government forces to abuse the Karen minority, he said.

Invitation of Karen Rebel Leader Turned Down

An invitation by Burma’s military regime for aging Karen rebel leader Gen Bo Mya to seek medical treatment in Burma has been turned down, according to sources along the Thailand-Burma border.
The invitation came during a meeting between Col Ner Dah Mya, son of Gen Bo Mya, and officials at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok on June 28, who reportedly offered to provide medical treatment in Rangoon for the ailing Karen National Union leader, as well as 300,000 baht (nearly US $8,000) for travel expenses.
Bo Mya, 79, who suffers severe health complications from advanced diabetes, last visited Rangoon in 2004 to attend peace talks with former prime minister Gen Khin Nyunt.
KNU officials confirmed that Burma’s ruling junta sent a medical team to Mae Sot, which included Dr Simon Thar, a Karen peace broker, in early July to assist during Bo Mya’s trip to Rangoon. The KNU ultimately refused the offer.
The proposed visit will not take place, according to KNU General Secretary Mahn Sha, because senior group leaders were displeased with the junta’s approach. The recent Bangkok meeting took place through unofficial channels and without the knowledge of the KNU or Bo Mya.
Prior to the embassy meeting in late June, a Burmese delegation met Pastor Timothy—a former member of the KNU involved in past ceasefire negotiations and a Chiang Mai-based humanitarian aid worker—in Myawaddy across the border from Mae Sot, Thailand. He denied on Wednesday having any role in brokering the invitation to Bo Mya.
Pastor Timothy split with the KNU’s foreign affairs office for “actions inconsistent with the organization,” according to the KNU—a charge stemming from a similarly unauthorized meeting with Burma’s military attaché Col Tin Soe last year, which led to discord among the Karen rebels.
Mahn Sha has charged that the junta’s offer to Bo Mya, rather than being a goodwill gesture towards peace, was designed to create divisions within the KNU.