Karen Demonstrate in Front of the White House and Burma Embassy

Burma Link | November 15, 2016

On November 11th, Karen people residing in the United States organised their first ever demonstration in front of the White House, demanding the U.S. Government to put pressure on the Burma Government towards implementing genuine peace and reconciliation in the country.

The demonstrators demanded the U.S. Government to put pressure on the Burmese government and military to withdraw their troops from Karen State; refrain from military cooperation with Burma’s armed forces; continue to support ethnic civil society as agents of democratic change in Burma; maintain key sanctions targeting the Burma Army and military crony companies; and exercise extreme caution in guiding international investment and economic development activities in Burma.

Between 600 to 700 people from 22 different states across the country took part in the event, Mu Kapaw, the Chairperson of the Eastern Pennsylvania Karen Community and leading organiser of the demonstration, told Burma Link. The event started with singing the Karen national anthem, an opening speech, and reading out the statement on recent armed conflict and human rights abuses in Karen State by the Karen Organization of the United States of America (KOUSA). About 500 to 600 demonstrators also marched from the White House to the Burma Embassy.

The demonstration aims to bring the struggle of the Karen and Burma’s other ethnic nationalities to the attention of observers around the world at a time when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD-led Government’s and the country’s ‘transition to democracy’ is captivating observers around the world whilst conflict and abuse continues in ethnic areas.

“This November 11th is the day that we, the Karen people and the ethnics from Burma are looking for peace, true peace in Burma,” said Mu Kapaw, continuing that despite her limited powers, Daw Suu Kyi is accountable and has to stand up for the ethnic people. “She has to stop these human rights violations, she has to stop this ethnic cleansing, and she has to stop and withdraw troops from ethnic territories because she is accountable.” Meanwhile, to the dismay of Burma’s long suffered ethnic minorities, Daw Suu Kyi remains silent.

All photos by KOUSA. Click on the images to enlarge.