December 31st, 2021
In the currently developing political circumstances, everyone, who regards oneself as a Karen, and every Karen organization, must make a supreme effort in the Karen national interest, General Saw Mutu Say Poe, President of the Karen National Union (KNU) said in his message sent to the Karen New Year Day of the Year 2761 (KE) which falls on January 2, 2022.
Due to the currently developing hazards, all our Karen organization must stand up boldly for our national cause and strive in unity, for the future growth in life and development of the Karen People, he said.
The KNU-controlled areas have seen intense fighting since the KNU officially denounced the coup. There was widespread criticism as other Karen armed organizations gave no comment on the coup and even made cooperation with the military group.
The KNU has called for the resolution of problems by political means throughout the successive eras.
However, the seizure of power by the military, once again, has made all endeavors of the KNU useless.
The KNU signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) along with seven other Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) in 2015.
The peace process has stalled due to the coup in February. the KNU-controlled areas have seen the resumption of intense fighting. Many locals have been displaced by fighting.
So long as the military dictators are far from the desire to resolve the political problems by political means with correct intention, true negotiation and effort for building in-country peace would not arise.
We are now witnessing distinctly the launching of armed resistance by the people and the new generation youths in the whole country, he continued.
The Karen armed organizations and Karen political parties have not issued any statements about the military coup and the resumption of fighting in Karen State.
The KNU/KNLA-PC and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) told the KIC that the Lay Kay Kaw incident was unacceptable.
Sent by the KIC.