Statement by the International Karen Organization (IKO), February 21, 2015

IKO’s stance on Statement released by KNU on February 16, 2015. No. 4/2015 – February 21, 2015

  • It is learned that KNU Central Standing Committee convened a meeting in the first week of February in order not to be entrapped by the afore planned political snare of the quasi-military U Thein Sein’s government on February 12 bogus Union Day.
  • At this meeting, the decision agreed on stated that the KNU representative is “to act in accordance with the organization’s policy, not going against it, and work together with other ethnic groups if there were to be any statement issued”. In other words, the representative is not to go against the decision made at the 15th Congress, and to sign anything jointly with other members of UNFC of which KNU was one of the co-founders. The agreement was that KNU representative would not sign if the others would not.
  • Although, this has been the ruling, the two KNU representatives acted against this and signed the U Thein Sein’s February 12, 2015 “Deed of Commitment” on their own whilst none of UNFC members did.
  • This act is regarded as misuse of authority by any organizations or governments, and appropriate action is generally taken. It could not only destabilize the KNU administrative mechanism but also hinder its working together with NCCT and UNFC on the implementation of a genuine peace process.
  • In addition, since this act could have disastrous effect on the future of the Karen Revolution and the Karen nationals, IKO together with IKO network inside the country earnestly urges that this matter be systematically resolved within the organization abiding by KNU decision of February 16, 2015, and as per its principles and policies work unitedly together with our fellow armed organizations.

 

Executive Committee
International Karen Organization

 

Contacts:

Mahn Orlando (Burmese and Karen) 006 1431 527267
Naw Htooku Hasrsay (English and Karen) 004 4794 0522425
Naw Myra Dahgaypaw (English and Karen) 001 718 207 2556

 

Download this statement as PDF in English | Burmese

Download the KNU statement as PDF in English | Burmese | Karen

You may also like: