September 2nd, 2022
General Saw Mutu Say Poe, Chairman of the Karen National Union (KNU) has withdrawn his acceptance as the lead patron of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) of the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in a letter dated August 31st.
KNU headquarters confirmed that the KNU president had responded on August 4th that he had accepted the PPST’s offer of patronage out of personal choice and had stepped down from the role.
Although he had responded by his own decision to accept the role in the PPST without representing the organization, it was decided at the KNU Central Working Committee meeting on August 31st that he would withdraw as the leading patron of the PPST, the letter said.
Moreover, as a supporter of democracy and advocate of KNU’s constitution and principles, he informed in the letter that he wanted to withdraw as a leading patron of the PPST in order to give priority to the organization’s principles over his personal opinion.
On April 3th, PPST Chairman Naing Aung Min sent a request to the KNU president to serve as a leading patron to provide political guidance and leadership to the PPST. On August 4th, KNU president replied that he accepted the request.
Sent by KIC