KNU Statement on 57th Anniversary of Its Founding

February 5- 2004

February 5, 2004 is the 57th Anniversary of the Day on which the Karen National Union (KNU) was founded. On this auspicious day for the entire Karen people, we, the KNU, issue our statement as follows.

• The Karen people’s movement for the right to decide their own destiny, with its origin in the Karen National Association founded in 1881, gained greater momentum by merging four Karen national organizations, into the KNU on February 5, 1947. The four were the Karen National Association, the Karen Central Organization, the Buddhist Karen National Association and the Karen Youth Organization. This was an enormously significant monument in the history of the Karen people’s national movement.

• The KNU was founded and mandated to lead in the Karen people’s struggle for the right to decide their own destiny, or for equal right and self-determination. Over the years, the KNU has unflinchingly borne the role of political leadership. Prior to the emergence of armed resistance by the Karen people, the KNU organized and led the peaceful demonstration of 400,000 Karen people, in 1948. In this demonstration, the Karen people had explicitly made clear their political demands for a Karen homeland, equality and, prevention of ethnic strife and civil war. These political demands showed the frank and honest endeavor of the KNU to gain equality and self-determination for all the nationalities native to the country, national unity and just resolution of problems through dialogue.

• In fact, if there were chances for just resolution of political problems through dialogue, and if the Karen people were not subjected to barbaric military attacks, there would have been no armed resistance by the Karen people. And the Karen people’s struggle for their rights would not have continued for more than half a century. The armed resistance of the Karen people has continued for so long because of denial by successive regimes in power to resolve political problems by political means and their policy of annihilation with brute military force. For that reason, the protraction of the civil war is due neither to the KNU nor the Karen people. Accordingly, it is necessary for those who are responsible, to entirely renounce the policy of annihilation and hold sincere political dialogues.

• In the 57 years of its existence, the KNU has never been subservient to any one. It has firmly stood as an independent organization, politically and organizationally. The KNU has overcome deceptions and extensive military offensives by successive regimes in power, because it has maintained political independence, made its own decisions and keep up the policy of self-reliance on the basis of its own nationality and the people. In the rough and difficult march of more than half a century, as the KNU has been able to avoid strategic mistakes militarily and politically, and cooperate with fellow nationalities and organizations, it is able to carry on the struggle up to this day.

• The KNU is endeavoring to resolve the political problems justly by political means. As the first step, it is negotiating with the SPDC for a cease-fire. In fact, in the effort to resolve the political problems justly, after a cease-fire, we will certainly be faced with numerous difficulties. In other words, we still have to make a vigorous stand and effort for the emergence of a genuine dialogue. However, the KNU will continue its effort with sincerity.

• In conclusion, we assure that the KNU will continue to endeavor unwaveringly, deliberately and relentlessly, for successful performance of the historical task it is bearing. Accordingly, we urge all the Karen to join hands with the KNU in the struggle for achievement of equality and self-determination for the Karen people, and urge the people at home and abroad to collectively endeavor for the emergence of a genuine political dialogue in Burma.