Karen Rebels Plan Peace Talks with Junta

A delegation from the ethnic opposition group Karen National Union is preparing to hold talks with Burma’s military government in an attempt to reach a peace accord, a move that has sparked disputes among the group’s leadership.
The four-member delegation from the KNU’s military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, was expected to leave for Burma on Friday, according to David Taw, head of the KNU foreign affairs office. The delegation includes four senior military officials: Col Paw Doh, Lt-Col Jonny, Maj Yin Nu and Maj Shwe Ro.
Details of the trip are not known, but the meeting is expected to take place in the new capital Naypyidaw.
The junta earlier rejected a proposed trip by a six-member civilian and military delegation and insisted on the talks taking place only between military, not civilian, leaders, KNU sources say. Burma’s ruling junta preferred to speak with leaders of KNU Brigade 7, deployed in Pa-an in Karen State, according to David Taw.
Senior members of the rebel group held two-day talks that ended on Friday, during which disputes arose over the selection of delegates.
The planned talks in Naypyidaw follow several earlier attempts to establish dialogue with the Burmese regime. KNU officials met Col Myat Htun Oo of Burma’s ruling State Peace and Development Council on June 21 in Myawaddy, opposite Mae Sot in Thailand. Col Myat Htun Oo is also reported to have met Brig-Gen Htain Maung, head of Brigade 7, during which the junta representative expressed his preference for “army-to-army” talks.
Some members of the KNU are concerned that negotiations between military leaders will lead to an agreement without the consent of other civilian members, according to David Taw. “The delegation that travels to Burma are from Brigade 7, so we’re not sure whether they represent the KNU or their own interests,” he said.
Col Myat Htun Oo met briefly with ailing Karen leader Gen Bo Mya in Mae Sot on July 15—a meeting reportedly arranged by the general’s son, Ner Dah Mya, who is said to have arranged it with Burmese embassy officials in Bangkok on June 28.
Tensions have increased since December 2005 between the group’s executive committee members and military leaders from Brigade 7, who at that time met Burma’s military attaché, Col Tin Soe, without first consulting KNU executive committee members.

Image: Col. Paw Doh, 101 Battalion Commander - Paul Keenan/ KHCPS Archive

Junta Halts Peace Talks with KNU

Scheduled talks between Burma’s military government and delegates from the Karen National Union were cancelled after government officials objected to certain delegates from the KNU, according to sources close to the ethnic opposition group. The six-member delegation was scheduled to travel to Myawaddy and from there to the new capital in Naypyidaw for ceasefire negations today, but those plans have been cancelled because of government complaints over the chosen delegates. “They [delegates] had planned to leave today,” David Taw, head of the KNU’s foreign affairs committee, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday. “We had agreed to the junta’s previous offer [of talks] and chose six delegates ready to discuss peace.” The aborted talks follow reports of growing rifts within the KNU’s civilian and military leadership. Ceasefire talks have been conducted between Burma’s military government and the KNU several times since 1993, but with little success. The last meeting between the two sides took place in May 2005.

Irrawaddy
28/09/06

Image: David Taw - KHCPS Archive

DKBA objects, condemns indirect attempts of US, using UN as tool, to destabilize Myanmar

The Democratic Kayin Buddhist Association (DKBA) today issued a declaration officially expressing its stance concerning the decision to put Myanmar on the agenda of the UN Security Council.

The following is the full text of the declaration:

US deliberately plotting to undermine Myanmar

The declaration (1/2006) on the stance of the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Association (DKBA)
1. Due to the submission of the permanent US representative to the UN on 15 September 2006 that Myanmar posed a threat to regional stability and peace, a decision was made to put Myanmar on the agenda of the UNSC.
2. The DKBA assumes that the US by using the UN
(a) is deliberately and purposely plotting to undermine the nation since it is against Our Three Main National Causes � non-disintegration of the Union; non-disintegration of national solidarity; and perpetuation of sovereignty �, in other words, the national policy.
(b) is attempting to delay and disturb the National Convention that is nearing successful completion. With the participation of all the mass and class organizations, the National Convention has been held in accord with the seven-point Road Map.
(c) is attempting to harm the stability and peace, the rule of law and democracy transition of the nation in addition to disturbing the building of a new modern developed nation.
3. We, the DKBA, have been witnessing regional peace, stability and development and enjoying the benefits as never before since we have joined hands with the Tatmadaw. As the entire Myanmar is also enjoying peace and stability practically, the situation in Myanmar will in no way threaten regional peace and stability.
4. The DKBA does not accept and objects and condemns the indirect attempts of the US, using the UN as a tool, to destabilize Myanmar and cause public hardships concerning basic needs and to encroach on the sovereignty of the country, a signatory to the UN Charter.

U Tha Htoo Kyaw
Chairman
DKBA Headquarters

New Light of Myanmar
27/9/06

KNU forces villagers to join guerrilla unit

The Karen National Union has been recruiting villagers to join their guerrilla army units, local villagers from Kawkareik said.
 
The Ongkong village of about 300 households was ordered to provide one person from each household.
 
The village is comprised of multiethnic groups, including the Mon, Karen, Lao-Shan and Burmese, located near Kanee of Kawkareik in Karen State. The Mon community comprises about 200 households.
 
A villager who arrived on the border said Commander Kyi Lin of KNU's No. 6 Brigade gave the order saying that households who could not provide the soldiers would be fined. New recruits were working in farms belonging to KNU officers.
 
The Karen National Union (KNU) is an armed group operating in the border area between Burma and Thailand. They have fighting the Burmese government since 1948 through its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).


Kao Wao
23/09/06

KNU prisoner Ricky Thet released by Burma junta

A Karen National Union (KNU)) member, Lt-Sgt Ricky Thet who has been imprisoned since 1982 at the age of 29, was released from Thayet Jail in central Burma today.
Ricky Thet was captured by the soldiers of the then ruling semi-military government, the Burma’s Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) while he and other KNU members, Mahn Ngwe Aung, Myo Aung, Richard and Tookie, attempted to seize control of the Burmese broadcasting building in Rangoon.
The leader Ngwe Aung and Myo Aung were killed during a shootout with soldiers guarding the building. Thet, Richard and Tookie were captured alive and sentenced to death and the sentences were later commuted to 25 years in 1989. Richard and Tookie are still being detained.
Thet told DVB that the condition within the prison was dire, especially healthcare was very poor with acute lack of medicines.
“Now at the prison for health matter, many people are seriously ill. There are no medicines. There were many people who died for no obvious reasons. At the moment, the health condition of U Kyaw Thaung is very dire. He is even unable to walk,” said Thet.
He was allowed to see his family members for the first time in November 1997 and planning to join them in Demoso, Karenni (Kayah) State. “I have to start my life from (square) one,” said Thet when he asked what he was planning to do, now that he was free.
He was not forced to sign any pledge but told not to go anywhere but home and to report to the local police station when he gets there and to notify the police before he goes anywhere.
DVB
Sep 20, 2006

KNU Statement on September-15 UNSC Decision on Burma

Office of the Supreme Headquarters, Kawthoolei

In 2005, Nobel peace laureate Bishop Desmond Tu Tu and former Czech president, Vaclav Havel, submitted to the UNSC a report on Burma, with ample facts detailing the appalling situation and pointing out the problems that could develop into a regional threat. They called upon the UNSC, without success, to discuss the problem and take relevant action.

Now, the United States’ proposal to put “Burma Case” on the formal agenda of the UNSC meets with success, when 10 of the members voted for it, making the oppressed ethnic nationalities and the people of Burma to regain some hope and joy.  The freedom, justice, and peace loving countries and people of the world welcome the decision. We, the KNU, are also delighted and welcome the decision, like the majority of the people.

Discussion of Burma’s problems by the UNSC will greatly assist the resolution of Burma’s problems, with a basis on freedom and justice.  We hope that the steps that will be taken by the UNSC with regard to Burma will be in consonant with aspirations of the multi-ethnic people of Burma, who have been yearning for freedom and justice for many decades.

One thing all of us, the people of Burma and the organizations representing them, have to be mindful about particularly is that we should not relax our effort, just because the Burma Case has been put on the formal agenda of the UNSC. We still need to raise our own struggle and endeavor as high as ever.

In closing, we call upon the SPDC military regime to cease its military campaigns against the Karen and other peoples, to put in place a nationwide ceasefire, to release unconditionally all political prisoners, including Daw Suu, U Tin Oo and Khun Tun Oo, to rescind all repressive laws and to resolve the problems of the country justly through dialogue.  

September 17, 2006

Karen ceasefire group leader under suspicion of drug dealing

A senior leader of a Karen ceasefire group is being suspected to be a drug dealer after his daughter and her husband were arrested last month. Major Lay Way could be arrested in connection with amphetamine drug trafficking, a source from Mon state who requested anonymity said.

"The senior leader of the Karen ceasefire group has disappeared and may be arrested on his way to Mon state from Three Pagodas Pass border town," the source close to the ceasefire group, Karen Peace Force (KPF) said.

The source said that he has not been seen in public. However, it could not be confirmed if he has been arrested.   Major Lay Way is not in Mon state at the moment.   A few months ago, the SPDC's anti drug police in Mon state had warned him about his involvement in amphetamine trafficking, the source added.

His daughter Miss Mu La Phong and her husband were arrested in central Mon State last month with 10,000 amphetamine tablets in their possession.

Movement of Karen troops under his command in Three Pagodas Pass is now on hold after news broke of his impending arrest, town residents said.   Over 50 years old, he has been in charge of TPP for a number of years.

The KPF is not as well known as the DKBA which is into high-level drug trafficking, especially  in Yaba (crazy medicine in Thai) in Mon and and Karen states, sources from southern Karen state said. The DKBA are allies of the State Peace and Development Council and are the kingpins in Yaba drug trafficking in these areas, whereas the KPF group is now a low level drug trafficker, the source said.

NMG
Saturday, 09 September 2006
Image: 'Drug Free Zone' Sign at DKBA 999 Special Battalion village Shwe Koako - KHCPS

Increasing refugees create shortage of medicine, shelter

The newly established refugee camp, Ei-du-hta, on the Thai-Burma border, is facing an acute shortage of shelters and medicines as the number of refugees have gone up following attacks by the Burma Army in Karen State.

"Currently, we are facing a shortage of shelters for newly arrived refugees comprising of about 30 families and for 26 families which arrived at the camp earlier," said Saw Pe Tha the chairperson of the camp.

Ei-du-hta camp was set up in April this year with 139 households including 744 refugees. Currently, the camp has 257 households comprising 1,303 refugees.

Regarding health care of refugees, Saw Pe Tha explained, "The health problems are quite serious. There is only a meagre supply of medicines which can last about two months. We are worried as large groups of new refugees have arrived."

Villagers abandoned their houses and villages and fled to hide in the jungles following operations by the Burma Army in Taungoo and Nyaunglebin districts since the beginning of this year. They fled to refugee camps as they ran out of food and supplies after having hidden for a long time in the jungles to escape attacks by the Burma Army.

"On 4th this month, 30 families which is the largest group ever arrived in the camp. One group came on the on 28th and another on the 24th of last month," said Saw Pe Tha.

Burmese troops have been continuously setting up new military camps with forced labour of local civilians in different areas that they have taken control, he said.

He added that Burmese troops have fenced and planted mines around each village. Villagers are ordered to stay inside villages, and they are shot to death if they come out of the fenced area.

Saw David Takapaw, a member of the Karen National Union said small battles are being waged between the KNU and the Burmese Army almost everyday.

"There are small, often guerilla warfare in Taungoo, Nyaunglebin, Papun and Thaton districts," he said.

There are about 70 battalions of Burmese troops in these areas and currently about 20,000 Karen villagers are hiding in the jungles of Karen State , he added.

Following the attacks by the Burma Army, about 2,000 villagers fled to Mae Ra Mu refugee camp and more than a thousand arrived in Ei-du-hta camp on the Thai-Burma border

NMG
Saturday, 09 September 2006

KPF leader's daughter arrested with amphetamine

The daughter of a senior leader of the Karen Peace Force (KPF), a cease-fire group, was arrested when amphetamine was found on her in Mon state, according to a source close to the KPF.
 
The KPF senior leader, Major Lay War's daughter Muu La Phong (28) was arrested with 20,000 amphetamine tablets in Three Pagoda Pass , Mudon town on her way back home, the source added.
 
She was arrested along with her husband Zaw Htet (28) from No.4 Mudon town quarter by the local police. According to the source, Major Lay War went back to Mudon to find ways to have his daughter released in the middle of August.
 
IMNA tired to confirm the arrest with a KPF intelligence officer in Three Pagoda Pass , but he put down the telephone.
 
Some Burmese military officers claimed she was arrested, the source said. Earlier, military government officers arrested some KPF family members in Three Pagoda Pass for possessing amphetamine. Recently Thai authorities also arrested some amphetamine dealers who had links with the KPF.
 
Use of Amphetamine, a stimulant drug is increasing at an alarming rate among university and school students in Mon State . Even teenagers in the villages are becoming addicted, said a villager in Mudon Township who uses the drug. 
 
He claimed that approximately about 50 percent of young people are into Amphetamine drugs and most of them are students from the University of Mawlamyine ( Moulmein ) and high school studying in ninth and tenth grades.
 
The number of people using Amphetamine in Kawbein village, Karen State is higher than most other places, said an official of the New Mon State Party.
 
Not only are soldiers of the Burma Army involved in Amphetamine trade but a surrendered Karen group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army plays a major role in dealing in stimulant drugs, said a man who not only uses Amphetamine but also sells it.

Chan Mon
IMNA
6/9/06