The problems of Burma could only be solved only when ethnic national leaders, the NLD and SPDC hold tripartite talks, he insists.

Q: General Bo Mya, we heard that there will be more talks next week.

A: During the last week of February.

Q: At Rangoon or Bangkok?

A: Inside Burma. At Myawaddy. Myawaddy.

Q: It has been 50 years since the battle at Insein (in Rangoon) occurred. That was your first trip (recent trip) to Rangoon. What did you feel when you landed at Rangoon airport?

A: It was good to be there. When we had discussion, we were treated like family members. They gave us proper accommodation. They gave us proper beds. They gave us the foods we liked to eat.

Q: General Khin Nyunt gave you a birthday party when you were in Rangoon. You have been fighting them for more than 50 years as an enemy. They called you ‘Murderer, Village Burner, (derogatory) Nga Mya’; and the same people splashed out a birthday party for you. How do you feel?

A: I don’t mind those things. When we were enemies, it was another matter. But we do not regard them as enemies when we talk to them. We treated each other like family members. He called me ‘Pha Htee’ meaning uncle and I called him (General Khin Nyunt) ‘nephew’.

Q: So. You believe that they are not just trying to use you as propaganda coup but General Khin Nyunt is working sincerely for the better on his side?

A: Yes. I do think like that. The reason is – they seem to want peace in Burma. They themselves have difficulties. They are unable to defeat us completely. We are unable to defeat them utterly. Therefore, we need to talk to have peace in Burma.

Q: As current talks are arranged by General Khin Nyunt, we heard that there have been sporadic clashes. The talks are between you and the military intelligence and the people who are fighting your people are the troops under the command of General Maung Aye. Don’t you need to talk to him? What do you think?

A: But…we met their leaders. But even if we are unable to meet them now, we will see them later. We told them that if their people attacked us, we would tell them and if our people attacked them, they would inform us. We will be self-constrained so that the attacks would not happen in the future. We agreed like that. As far as we know their fighting forces are under the command of the military intelligence (MI).

Q: During 1993-94, while you were at Manaplaw (at Sleeping Dog Hill, I think), the then SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) invited you for dialogues but you didn’t go. Before that the KIO (Kachin Independence Organisation) left the DAB (Democratic Alliance of Burma). When the Kachin and Mon had ceasefire talks (with the junta), you said (as far as I heard) that they have betrayed you. Now that you are having dialogues yourself, what do you feel?

A: I said the truth. Before, we had the alliance which included Kachin and Mon. We had some agreements as members of NDF (National Democratic Front) and the DAB. In the agreements, we decided that if they (Burmese generals) came to talk to us, we would talk to them as a single front, not as individuals. All the leaders (of the alliance) signed the agreements. In the end, when there was a chance for the dialogue, none of the leaders of the front kept their promise but went to sign ceasefire agreements individually. They broke all the promises. That’s why I said that. They went (to the other side) without informing us. They were not loyal. They broke their promises. As for the KNU (Karen National Union), we kept on fighting the SPDC for many years. In the end, they asked us to enter the ‘legal fold’ and to give up armed struggles. When the offer was suitable to us, we went to talk to them. The KNU has been keeping its promise, not like other groups.

Q; Before the KNU went to have the dialogues (in Rangoon with the SPDC), you went to NCUB (National Council of the Union of Burma), the NDF and your five other military allies to explain the matter to them, I think.

A: they also agreed with us. When we discussed with NCUB, they said that the NLD (National League for Democracy) is right in this matter. That’s good. I told them that the KNU armed struggle is our own struggle. The alliance is another matter. We will be working for our national causes and with our own national policies.

Q: You are the vice-chairman of the KNU and the chairman of the NCUB. As the second round of talks is likely to be successful, how are you going to take responsibilities on pro-democracy forces such as ABSDF (All Burma Students Democratic Fronts) and NLD-LA who are staying inside your areas?

A: We can sort that out. Our friends are our friends and they are our friends. We do not regard them as enemies.

Q: If the KNU obtained official ceasefire, there would be more ceasefire groups. Then, do you have the intention to form a political front and military alliance with ceasefire groups including the Kachin, Mon and Shan?

A: Our situation is not the same as theirs. They entered the ‘legal fold’. They gave up armed struggles. Unlike us, they didn’t have (conditional preliminary) discussions (with the junta). The SPDC asked them the list of their weapons. Only when they did so, were they given money. Our case is not like that. The SPDC didn’t ask us the list. The SPDC didn’t ask us the list of our soldiers. There are differences. Not the same. When we are talking about the ceasefire, we do not accept the policy of giving up armed struggle. What we understand is we are only discussing a ceasefire and, only after it we would talk politics. Our situation is not like theirs.

Q: We assumed that the KNU’s situation is the same as those of the Kachin and Mon. What are the differences?

A: We do not enter the ‘legal fold’. We do not give up armed struggles.

Q: The SPDC says that political discussions would be done in their ‘national convention’. Are you expecting to have political discussions in the ‘national convention’ or how are you planning?

A: What we understand is not like that. What we understand is after the ceasefire, we will discuss political matters. It is nothing to do with the ‘national convention’.

Q: Therefore, you have no intention to attend the SPDC-sponsored ‘national convention’?

A: We say nothing about the ‘national convention’.

Q: In 1948-49, 50 years ago when the KNU started its revolution with the motto of Saw Ba Oo Gyi, ‘one kyat for the Karen – one kyat for the Burmans’, a separate Karen State for the Karen people. After the ceasefire, do you think that your aim of a separate, self-ruled state would be achieved? How are you going to achieve your aim?

A: We have to try to achieve that aim. Saw Ba Oo Gyi laid down this policy. In the past, when more 400,000 demonstrated in Rangoon – we peacefully demanded no civil war in Burma, the designation of a Karen State and ‘one kyat for the Karen – one kyat for the Burmans’ with equal rights and self-rule. I won’t say more than that. The Burmans thought that the independence was for them only and not for other nationals. They reserved the independence for Burmans and they shut down all the rights of other ethnic nationals with Burman nationalism. Ethnic nationals were not allowed to learn their own language and literatures. They shut them all down. Other ethnic nationals could not accept it. That was not good. If the leader of a nation is not good the whole country is in trouble and the people will suffer. …told me that later, there will be no military rule.

Q: Thank you, General Bo Mya. I have almost got all the answers.

A: I have a little comment to add. There are organisations such as the NLD, our own KNU and the SPDC. The problems will only be solved only when these organisations meet. If we do not meet, the problems could not be solved.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 15 Feb 04