An interview with U Khun Myint Tun, Chair of the PNFC
Under the directive of the Pa-O National Organization/ Pa-O National Army (PNO/PNA), most of Pa-O ethnics held a protest against the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force/People’s Defense Force (KNDF/PDF) on the Tabaung ground in Kangyi ward in Taunggyi Township on 15 March. This protest is related to the killings of three monks and 19 civilians in Namname village in Pinlaung Township.
It is found that the protestors used the words which may create hatred between Pa-O and Karenni people. The Shan News interviewed U Khun Myint Tun, chair of the Pa-O National Federal Council (PNFC) about to what extent the racial hatred created by the PNO/PNA as a stooge of the military council will grow, on how to solve the problem, the existence of Pa-O and Karenni people throughout the history and the inclusion of youths in politics.
Q: May I know your view on the protest by most Pa-O ethnics against the KNDF and the PDF on Tabaung ground in Taunggyi Township on 15 March?
A: The first thing I want to say is the military council is creating the racial hatred between the Karenni and Pa-O people. The military council is systematically creating hatred between Pa-O and Karenni. The PNO/PNA which led the protest is an organization which made a ceasefire and transformed itself into the People’s Militia Force (PMF) in 2010. The PMF has to run under the command and order of the army. So, those who led the protest are members of the Pa-O militia force. It is under the directive of the army. So it is said that the army compelled and threatened the public to hold the protest. Pa-O people participated in the public CDM movement together with the people in the whole country. In Particular, the people participated in the anti-coup protests in Taunggyi by wearing Pa-O uniforms. The photos showing the active feelings of Pa-O people who participated in the Spring Revolution’s protests are totally different from the facial expression of the people who participated in the protest in Tabaung ground on 15 March.
Pa-O people who participated in the protest in Tabaung ground on 15 March looked unhappy. It is obvious that they had to do the work they didn’t want. They did not make the protest march. It seems that each person from a house is forced to join the protest. Their faces looked uncomfortable. We can show the photos as evidence by looking at the faces of the protestors which held vinyl and posters. Pa-O people don’t like the conflict between Karenni and Pa-O people. They themselve know they are utilized. They cannot escape from this situation.
Q: To what extent will the racial hatred grow if the military council creates division by using the PNO?
A: Nowadays, they are instigating and sharing propagadas with the use of wrong information. However, we have regarded Karenni people as our blood brothers and sisters throughout the history of Karenni and Pa-O people and so do the Karenni people. Although Pinlaung is Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, the township has many Karen villages. We peacefully live together. In addition, other ethnics including Shan and Bamar people are living in Pinlaung. We expect we can deal with the prolonged hatred throughout history. According to history, Karen, Karenni and Pa-O are not only descendants but also blood brothers and sisters in the revolution for national liberation. Looking back at the history, Karen, Karenni and Pa-O people are included in the National Democratic Front formed on the principle to eradicate the military dictatorship and the Great Nationalism. The military council’s propaganda will not achieve success.
Q: How should we solve the problem in order that the racial hatred does not grow in the future?
A: Especially, coordination between relevant political leaders is required. The views of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Pa-O and Karenni areas are also crucial. We need to collectively solve such problems existed among the public.
Q: As you said before, the PNO/PNA are creating racial problem. What does the PNO/PNA want to respond to it?
A: I made a request to conduct a quick review on cooperation between the military council and U Aung Kham Hti, Patron of the PNO/PNA and the leaders. I would like to request the leaders of the PNO/PNA through the Shan News to quickly review it.
Q: Some people shared the posts on the facebook urging the people not to accept the IDPs, mainly Karenni IDPs after the protest, especially the Nam Nein massacre. May I know your view on it?
A: Karenni and Pa-O people are living together. Especially, the new generations need to know the fact that Kayan and Karenni people look after Pa-O people when Pa-O people faced the plight. We want the public to repeatedly say it. Pa-O people and Karenni people look after each other throughout the history. For instance, Khun Sar’s Mong Tai Army (MTA) raided and captured the Malaw camp of Patron of the PNO/PNA and the then-chair of the PNO/PNA U Aung Kham Hti on the Thai-Myanmar border in March, 1984. Then, the then-chair of the PNO/PNA U Aung Kham Hti and his members had to seek political asylum at the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Karenni people. At that time, the Karenni people had to look after U Aung Kham Hti and members of the PNO/PNA. Our Pa-O people cordially take pride in looking after the Karenni IDPs. To drive out Karenni IDPs is not the desire of Pa-O people. It can be said that the IDPs are forced to return home under the directives of the military council. We need to share this information among the public.
Q: Can it be said that the military council is trying to persuade youths to have no interest in politics?
A: The army has been working to exclude youths from politics since 1962. Since the 1962 coup, the successive military dictators have hampered the country’s development and carried out political sterilization. For the worse, the army’s political sterilization has started since the 1988 coup. Our PNO/PNA made a ceasefire in 1991. We could not open the eyes of Pa-O youths and the public in terms of politics as we had to grow up under military rule. The course on politics were conducted nowhere. Not only the Pa-O area but also the whole country faces political sterilization. We are required to escape from such a situation.
Q: May I know your view on the military’s efforts to exclude the youths from politics in the successive eras?
A: Today is totally different from the past, how the military dictators create the problem. Now we can establish a direct connection with the public and international community. The world’s ICT has developed a lot. Our youths already know who and how they have developed in the world. Nowadays, it is impossible to keep their eyes closed. So, the military dictatorship shall really fall. At present our youths cannot do their work as they have no opportunity. No one believes in the military dictatorship and the regime.
Q: I did not see youths in this protest. Most of the protestors are older persons. May I know your view on a lack of youth in the protest?
A: It is evident that Pa-O youths have to flee to other places due to the forced recruitment of soldiers in Pa-O region. Many Pa-O youths have fled to Thailand. They are making efforts for the improvement of their life by taking shelter in Thailand. So there are not many youths left in the Pa-O area. Youths fled due to the recruitments by the army and the PNO. Likewise, many youths have fled to other countries. That’s why, only the elderly people are found in the protest. Another point is youth worry that they may be recruited for the army and the PMF.
Sent by Shan News