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Karen National Union

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Karen National Union
ကညီ ဒီကလုာ် စၢဖှိၣ်ကရၢ
AbbreviationKNU
ChairpersonPadoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win
Secretary-GeneralPadoh Saw Thadaw Moo
P'doh Saw Thaw Thi Bweh
Padoh Saw Hla Tun
SpokespersonPadoh Saw Taw Nee
Vice chairP'doh Saw Hser Gay
Founded5 February 1947 (1947-02-05)
HeadquartersKlo Yaw Lay Manerplaw (until 1995)
Armed wingKNLA, KNDO
Ideology
ReligionChristianity
Buddhism
National affiliationNational Unity Consultative Council
Slogan"Give me liberty, or give me death!"[1]
Anthem"Dear Our People"
Party flag
Website
www.knuhq.org
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The Karen National Union (Burmese: ကရင် အမျိုးသား အစည်းအရုံး; abbreviated KNU) is a political organisation with an armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), that claims to represent the Karen people of Myanmar. It operates in mountainous eastern Myanmar and has underground networks in other areas of Myanmar where Karen people live as a minority group.

Some of the Karen, led primarily by the Karen National Union (KNU), have waged a war against the central government since early 1949. The aim of the KNU at first was independence. Since 1976 the armed group has called for a federal system rather than an independent Karen State.

The Karen conflict is the second longest internal war in the world after the Dagohoy rebellion in the Philippines, having been waged for 85 years until 1829.[2][3]

History

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1947 – 1959

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The KNU was founded in 1947. Following Myanmar's independence in January 1948, KNU leaders instructed local organisers to establish local defence militias, collectively grouped under the Karen National Defence Organisation in their districts. The KNU launched its armed campaign against the Myanma government in early 1949.

By the early 1950s, factions within Karen politics were influencing the strategic posture of the KNU. In 1953, Mahn Ba Zan and other KNU leaders established the Karen National Unity Party (KNUP), a communist-influenced group that supported a shift leftward in KNU politics.

1960 – 1969

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By 1960, KNUP members had become the dominant figures within KNU structures, despite the KNUP being a "minority"[4] tendency within Karen politics, as described by Paul D. Kenny. The KNUP was strongest in the Irrawaddy Delta.[5]

Under KNUP influence, the KNU was centralised, the KNLA was reorganised along Maoist lines, and agricultural cooperatives were created in some KNU-controlled villages.

By 1963, the KNU numbered approximately 10,000.[5]

As the KNU trended leftward internally, its outward posture was complicated by the broader alignment of forces within Myanmar. Chinese support for the Communist Party of Burma – a rival of the KNU – led the organisation into a tacit understanding with the Kuomintang, which had been displaced into northern Myanmar following defeat in the Chinese Civil War.

Ideological and strategic disagreement precipitated the breaking away of senior figure Tha Hmwe in April 1963, with approximately 400 men, to found the Karen Revolutionary Council (KRC). The KRC was wound-up following Tha Hmwe's capture in 1964.

In KNU-controlled territory along the Thai border, a more successful reaction against the KNUP influence within the KNU took place. These areas, at some distance from KNUP strength in the Irrawaddy Delta, had come under the sway of S'gaw Karen figures, especially commanders Shwe Hser and Bo Mya.

In 1966, Bo Mya – then head of the Karen Armed Force's Eastern Division – seized control of the Dawna Range and much of the Thai border region and ordered KNUP cadres to leave his territory. Bo Mya was able to maintain an army approximately 10,000 men by taxing illegal trade along the border with Thailand.[5]

In 1967, Mahn Ba Zan and four other senior KNUP officials reconciled with Bo Mya, forming the Karen National Unity Front (KNUF). This reconciliation paved the way both for Bo Mya's ultimate ascension to KNU presidency in 1976.

1970 – 1999

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By 1970, following KNUP military defeats in the Irrawaddy Delta, the KNU had become the dominant representative body for the Karen Movement.

The 9th KNU congress was held in September 1974,[6] and the 11th KNU congress was held in 1995.[7]

Bo Mya dominated the KNU leadership for three decades from 1976 to 2000. For many years, the KNU was able to fund its activities by controlling black market trade across the border with Thailand, and through local taxation[citation needed]. After the failed 8888 Uprising of the Myanmar people in 1988, the Myanmar military government turned to China for help in consolidating its power. Various economic concessions were offered to China in exchange for weapons. The Myanmar Army was massively expanded and began to offer deals to groups fighting the government. The groups were offered the choice of co-operating with the military junta or being destroyed.

In 1994, a group of Buddhist soldiers in the KNLA, citing discrimination by the KNU's overwhelmingly Christian leadership against the Buddhist Karen majority, broke away and established the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). They were led by U Thuzana, an influential Karen monk.[8] The DKBA quickly agreed to a ceasefire with the Myanmar army and was granted business concessions at the expense of the KNU . The KNU and DKBA have since been in regular fighting, with the DKBA actively supported by the Myanmar army.

The KNU's effectiveness was severely diminished after its headquarters were captured in the Fall of Manerplaw, near the Thai border, in 1995.

2000 – 2009

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The 12th KNU congress was held in 2000,[7] the 13th KNU congress was held from 12 to 16 December 2005,[9] and the 14th KNU congress was held from 6 to 20 October 2008.[9]

Padoh Mahn Sha La Phan, the secretary-general of the union was shot dead in his home in Mae Sot, Thailand, on 14 February 2008, possibly by soldiers of the DKBA.[10][11][12]

In 2009, the KNU's fighting force was reduced to around 3000 to 5000 soldiers,[13] and on 25 June 2009 the KNLA's Brigade 7 headquarters was overrun.[14]

2010 – present

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On 2 November 2010, the Karen National Union became a member of an alliance which included the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Chin National Front (CNF), the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Shan State Army North (SSA-N).[15]

In January 2012, Myanmar's military-backed civilian government signed a ceasefire deal with the KNU in Hpa-an, the capital of eastern Kayin State. Aung Min, the Railway Minister, and General Mutu Sae Poe of the KNU led the peace talks.[16]

In March 2012, a senior political leader of KNU, P'doh Mahn Nyein Maung, was found guilty of high treason under the Illegal Association Act, for his involvement with the Karen rebellion and sentenced to 20 years.[17] He was freed soon afterward and sent back to Thailand.[18]

The Karen National Union held its 15th congress at Lay Wah on 26 November 2012. This meeting was held at a pivotal moment in the KNU's history, as it occurred at a time of political in-fighting in regards to how the KNU should negotiate a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government.[19]

From 30 October to 2 November 2013, an unprecedented meeting took place at the Kachin Independence Organisation headquarters in Laiza. For the first time, representatives of 17 armed ethnic opposition groups were able to meet in Myanmar with the consent of the government.[20] The conference resulted in the formation of a 13-member Nationwide Ceasefire Coordinating Team (NCCT) and the signing of an "11-Point Common Position of Ethnic Resistance Organisations on Nationwide Ceasefire" or the Laiza Agreement. The NCCT's current mandate was to take responsibility on writing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement based on mutual understanding between the different armed groups in the NCCT. At the Law Khee Lah Conference, it was agreed that the NCCT had the mandate to discuss and change the document technically, except at the policy level. When the final document was ready, the respective ethnic organisation leaders decided and discussed with the Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC) on the nationwide ceasefire.[21]

On 15 October 2015, the KNU signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government of Myanmar, along with several other insurgent groups.[22]

In September 2016, KNLA fighters began clashing with members of the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), the armed wing of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), in the Tanintharyi Region. Both the KNU and NMSP were signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) at the time of the fighting. A temporary bilateral truce was reached between the two groups on 14 March 2018.[23]

Tensions between the KNU and the Tatmadaw increased as unrest swept the country following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. On 27 March 2021, KNU Brigade 5 overran a Myanmar Army base near the Thai border, killing ten soldiers including a deputy battalion commander. The Myanmar army launched multiple airstrikes on Karen villages in retaliation.[24][25] In 2021, KNU became a member of the National Unity Consultative Council.[26]

Following the coup, the KNU launched an investigation on Nerdah Bo Mya, a commander of the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO), the KNU's other main armed wing, for his role in the extrajudicial execution of 25 men.[27] He refused to cooperate with the investigation and instead formed a splinter group, the Kawthoolei Army.[27] The Kawthoolei Army has since banded with two resistance units, the Venom Commando and the Lion Battalion, both of which had previously been supervised by the KNLA's Brigade 6.[27]

Conditions of ceasefire

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The group announced it will never enter into ceasefire talks with the military unless three conditions are met:[28]

  1. The military must agree to leave politics completely.
  2. The military must face justice during the transition period – junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing should not get immunity for the offenses they committed.
  3. The military must accept a new constitution that is suitable for the establishment of a federal democratic union.

Leadership

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The Karen National Union leadership is a democratically elected body with individuals elected at a four-yearly congress.[citation needed] The KNU Congress is recognised as the KNU's supreme legislative body and it is here that the President, vice-president, General Secretary, Joint Secretaries 1 and 2 and the Central Executive Committee (CEC), the Central Standing Committees (CSC) and candidate members are elected.[citation needed] The seven KNU districts are responsible for electing their own District Chairmen and District Standing Committee leaders every two years. As the District Chairmen and Brigade Commanders are elected at local levels, they are automatically appointed as Central Standing Committee Members. The District Chairmen and Brigade Commanders together with nominated District Standing Committee Members attend the KNU congresses. In addition, elected Central Standing Committee members would provide the ministers for 14 Departments including Culture, Defence, Education, Forestry, Foreign Affairs, Health, and Mining. The CEC comprises eleven members responsible for the day-to-day running of the KNU. The CSC meets annually when issues arise that directly affect the KNU policies and/or the existence of the KNU organisation, the CEC will call a CSC Emergency Meeting.[29]

Additionally, the Foreign Affairs Department appoints KNU representatives. These representatives are based among the Karen communities who support KNU's political goals and objectives in their respective countries.

The incumbent leaders elected at the 15th KNU Congress are:[30]

Central Executive Committee

  • Chairperson: P'doh Saw Kwe Htoo Win
  • Vice-chairperson: P'doh Saw Hser Ghay
  • General Secretary: P'doh Ta Doh Moo
  • First Secretary: P'doh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe
  • Second Secretary: P'doh Saw La Htun
  • Other CEC members: General Saw Johny, Lieutenant General Saw Ta Mla Thaw, P'doh Naw Dah Dah, P'doh Saw Law Eh Moo, P'doh Saw Taw Nee, P' doh Saw Eh K'lu Say

Department heads:

  • Head of the Agriculture Department: P'doh Saw Lay Say
  • Head of the Alliance Affairs Department: P'doh Mahn Nyne Maung
  • Head of the Breeding and Fishery Department: P'doh Saw Mya Maung
  • Head of the Defense Department: Lt. Col. Saw Roger Khin
  • Head of the Education and Culture Department: P'doh Saw Lah Say
  • Head of the Finance and Revenue Department: P'doh Saw Thaw Thi
  • Head of the Forestry Department: P'doh Mahn Ba Tun
  • Head of the Foreign Affairs Department: P'doh Saw Tony
  • Head of the Health and Welfare Department: P'doh Saw Eh Kalu Shwe Oo
  • Head of the Interior and Religion Department: P'doh Saw Ah Toe
  • Head of the Organisation and Information Department: P'doh Saw Hla Tun
  • Head of the Justice Department: P'doh Naw Myne Poe
  • Head of the Mining Department: P'doh Saw Ker Ler
  • Head of the Transportation and Communication Department: P'doh Saw Kawkasar Nay Soe

References

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  1. ^ "The Politics of Pressure: KNLA". www.ibiblio.org. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Burma's Longest War: Anatomy of the Karen Conflict". Tni.org. 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  3. ^ Palafox, Quennie Ann J. (6 September 2012). "THE VISION OF FRANCISCO DAGOHOY". National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2024. The most prominent of which was Francisco Dagohoy- the ringleader of the uprising that lasted for 85 years, the longest in history of the Philippines.
  4. ^ Kenny, Paul D. (December 2010). "Structural Integrity and Cohesion in Insurgent Organizations: Evidence from Protracted Conflicts in Ireland and Burma". International Studies Review. 12 (4): 533–555. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2486.2010.00959.x. JSTOR 40931356.
  5. ^ a b c Smith, Martin J. (1991). Burma: Insurgency and the Politics of Ethnicity. London: Zed Books. p. 222. ISBN 9780862328689.
  6. ^ "1970s Struggle for Identity". Burmalibrary.org. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Interview with Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan". Burmadigest.info. Archived from the original on 10 May 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  8. ^ Gravers, Mikael (2022). "A Saint in Command? Spiritual Protection, Justice and Religious Tensions in the Karen State". Independent Journal of Burmese Scholarship. 1 (2020, Vol.1): Unknown.
  9. ^ a b "KNU holds its 14th congress". Dvb.no. 16 December 2005. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  10. ^ Radnofsky, Louise (14 February 2008). "Burmese rebel leader shot dead". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  11. ^ "Burmese rebel leader is shot dead". BBC News. 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  12. ^ Radnofsky, Louise (14 February 2008). "Burmese rebel leader shot dead". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  13. ^ "The Times March 24, 2009 Burma: world's longest war nears its end". The Times. UK. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  14. ^ "KNU Headquarters Overrun: Now What?". Irrawaddy.org. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Armed ethnic groups denied vote form historic alliance". Mizzima.com. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Burma government signs ceasefire with Karen rebels". BBC News. 12 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Myanmar court jails ethnic rebel leader for high treason". Daily Times. 14 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Burma frees ethnic Karen rebel leader". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  19. ^ "Karen National Union kicks off 15th congress". The Democratic Voice of Burma. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  20. ^ EBO Briefing Paper: ETHNIC ARMED ORGANIZATIONS CONFERENCE Laiza, Kachin State – 30 October to 2 November 2013. euroburmaoffice.s3.amazonaws.com, October 2013. Hentet 14. januar 2023.
  21. ^ "The Peace Process". Karen National Union. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  22. ^ "Myanmar signs ceasefire with eight armed groups". Reuters. 14 October 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  23. ^ "KNU and NMSP agree to temporary ceasefire". The Myanmar Times. 14 March 2018. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Six die in Myanmar Air Strikes on Karen Villages Near the Thai Border". Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Myanmar army launches air strikes in Karen state, group says". Reuters. 27 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  26. ^ "NUCC consists of eight EAOs including the KNPP » Myanmar Peace Monitor". Myanmar Peace Monitor. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  27. ^ a b c "Into the lion's den: The failed attack on Shwe Kokko". Frontier Myanmar. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  28. ^ Wai Mar Tun (24 April 2024). "Junta recaptures key border base, but Karen rebels say fight isn't over". Radio Free Asia.
  29. ^ "Home". knuhq.org. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  30. ^ "KNU | Myanmar Peace Monitor". mmpeacemonitor.org. Myanmar Peace Monitor. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
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