Public opinion on how to unite the many divided Karen armed groups was sought during a recent event held by the Karen Youth Organization (KYO) in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State. Saw Kaw Thu Lay, KYO central permanent member, told KIC News that it’s crucial for the Karen to become united once again.
“We are moving forward towards a federal union and our Karen armed groups are divided. We are collecting public opinion on how to unite them as one group.”
For years some of the Karen armed groups were fighting each other after the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) split from Karen National Union (KNU) in the nineties. The rift eventually caused the DKBA and the KNU to split into even smaller factions.
Saw Kaw Thu Lay explained that they will follow a policy set down by the KNU to unite the Karen National Liberation Army, the DKBA, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council under one leadership.
Over one-hundred from five villages in Hla Ka Zaing Village Group attended the public opinion program at Hla Ka Zaing monastery on 7 July.
Other public opinion programs are planned in Ye and Thanbyuzayat townships and village groups Kha Le, Ta Gon Daing, and Taung Dee.
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Saw Lar Shu Phaung from Kha Le Village said: “As an ethnic Karen, I feel happy that they will become united. The Karen people are not developed due to disunity in the past. If they can become united again, we can carry out more for nationalism, literature, and culture than in the past.”
Last month in Karen State, residents from Ann Pha Gyi Village in Kawkareik Township also held similar events aimed at unifying the Karen.
Reporting by Saw Myat Oo Thar for KIC News
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
