Statement After 16th Karen National Union (KNU) Congress (Lay Wah)

Karen National Union (KNU) | May 20, 2017

The first Central Standing Committee (CSC) meeting after the Karen National Union (KNU) 16^th Congress was held successfully from May 16 to 20. Of the 55 CSC members, 51 attended the meeting>

At the meeting, formation of the councils, affairs committees and work committees, required by the KNU Constitution, entrustment of duties for implementation of future work programs, selection of delegates for attending the Union Peace Conference- 21^st Century Panglong Conference, and discussions and review of matters concerning political dialogue were made.

The CSC meeting reviewed matters relating to implementation of nationwide ceasefire and the peace process. Agreement was reached to hold a workshop to review the peace process for garnering views, positions and stands regarding the current political state of Burma and possible consequences.

Agreement was also reached to endeavor for gaining true peace in the country by having contact and relation with the ethnic armed resistance organizations, which cannot still sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), for various reasons.

This statement is issued to the effect that in the implementation of the future work programs and decisions of the 16^th Congress and, in holding the national level political dialogues to be continued, the CSC, together with the Karen people, will cooperate with all the other ethnic armed organizations, political parties, political forces and social organizations.

Central Standing Committee

Karen National Union

Supreme Headquarters

Contacts:

Padow Saw Gweh Htoo Win +66 81 8076 279

Pado Saw Dadoh Mu +66 60 5049 113