The New KNU?—Let’s Wait and See

By SAW YAN NAING

Burma’s oldest ethnic rebel group, the Karen National Union (KNU), concluded its 14th congress in Karen State on October 18, with 11 new appointed executive members, including the first woman general-secretary.

Some Karens and observers welcomed the appointments, while others criticized the KNU leadership as being too old and inactive.

Eighty-eight-year-old Gen Tamla Baw was named chairman of the KNU and his daughter, Zipporah Sein, was appointed general-secretary at the congress.

Maj Hla Ngwe was appointed joint secretary (1) and Saw Daw Lay Mu was appointed joint secretary (2). The other executive committee members appointed were David Htaw, Roger Khin, Mutu Say Poe, Arr Toe, Lah Say and Kay Hser and Vice-Chairman David Takapaw.

As the first woman leader to serve as the KNU’s general-secretary, Zipporah Sein assumes the position of the politically experienced and influential former KNU general-secretary, Mahn Sha, who was assassinated on February 14, 2008, by two gunmen allegedly hired by Karen breakaway group members.

Some observers are confisdent that Zipporah Sein has enough experience and knowledge to take on the role. However, others do not expect her to perform as effectively as Mahn Sha.

Zipporah Sein currently serves as general-secretary of the Karen Women’s Organization (KWO), which is actively involved in social activities and the human rights movement, compiling data on human rights abuses committed by the Burmese junta’s soldiers against ethnic Karen.

In June 2007, she received the Perdita Huston Human Rights Award for her work to aid women’s struggle for freedom, democracy and equality in Burma. She was also nominated by an international women’s organization for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

A member of the KWO said, “As a Karen woman, I am very proud that Zipporah has been appointed general-secretary of the KNU and I believe she will be the best leader for all of the Karen.”

The general-secretary of the Women’s League of Burma, Nang Yain, also voiced support. “This is an acknowledgement that the KNU recognizes the role of women in the political movement,” she said.

Zipporah Sein’s father, Gen Tamla Baw, was appointed chairman at the congress. Tamla Baw previously served as head of the KNU’s military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army. He was a close colleague of the late Gen Bo Mya.

However, several analysts and observers have questioned whether he is up to the task of leading the KNU.

“It would be better if someone who is more active and aware of both politics and the armed struggle took over the position,” said one Burma observer. “But, if he stayed on as an adviser that would be fine.”

Several Burma observers remain optimistic and point out that it is not only the KNU, but also the main opposition party in Burma, the National League for Democracy, and the Burmese military government that retain an aged leadership.

“We can say the KNU passed its leadership to the hands of a new generation,” said Aung Thu Nyein, a political analyst on a Burmese blog and former senior leader of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front. “Except for Gen Tamla Baw, the rest of the leaders are young.”

Speaking to The Irrawaddy from Australia, a young Karen woman who has resettled said, “I think people in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) areas or border areas are not interested in the KNU nowadays. Most people want to go to a third country. They don't believe and don’t trust the KNU leadership any more.”

The KNU is one of the oldest surviving rebel groups in Southeast Asia and has been fighting for autonomy since 1949. It has never signed a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government.

However, in 1995, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army split from the KNU and reached a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese regime.

Then, in early 2007, another splinter group, the KNU/ KNLA Peace Council, led by former KNLA Brigade 7 leader Maj-Gen Htain Maung, also signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta.

Since the KNU/ KNLA Peace Council split from the KNU, assassinations between the KNU and its breakaway groups have occurred frequently. The latest major assassination was former KNU general-secretary Mahn Sha.

Mahn Sha was respected not only by ethnic Karens, but by most Burmese democratic alliance groups and individuals who have participated in the pro-democracy movement for Burma.

“It is necessary for the new KNU leadership to quickly stop the assassinations and divisions among Karen people,” said Aung Thu Nyein. “It is time for the KNU to reestablish unity among the Karen people.”

Joint Secretary (1) Maj Hla Ngwe admitted that the KNU had been cleverly manipulated by the Burmese military regime.

“We have had weaknesses and divisions in the past,” Hla Ngwe said. “That is natural. It can happen in any party or organization. But, we should learn from these events and ensure it doesn’t happen in the future.”

Meanwhile, the newly appointed vice-chairman of the KNU, David Takapaw, said that political conflicts in Burma should be solved by political means, but the KNU would continue the armed struggle in self-defense.

David Takapaw also said that the KNU would still welcome negotiations with the Burmese government and would consider a ceasefire agreement under certain conditions, such as a Burmese troop withdrawal from Karen State and the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

“If the Burmese authorities really want to negotiate with us, we are ready to sit at the table,” said David Takapaw.

In 2004, former KNU Chairman Gen Bo Mya visited Rangoon for peace talks with Burma’s former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt. The result was the so-called “gentlemen’s agreement.”

However, in early 2006, Burmese troops launched major military offensives against Karen civilians in northern Karen State and forced an estimated 30,000 Karen villagers to flee into the countryside as well as to seek refuge across the Thai-Burmese border.

In February 2007, the KNU broke off all contact with the Burmese regime when Maj-Gen Htain Maung and some 300 KNU soldiers defected to the Burmese army.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Monday, a Karen religious leader in Rangoon said that the KNU leaders have good points, but they also have weak points. He called on the new KNU leaders to think maturely when making decisions.

However, he said that it was still too early to comment about the KNU’s new leadership.

“Let’s wait and see,” he said.