Hosted by 88 Generation Karen Student Association the rally in the Karen State capital was an opportunity for residents to show how much they really desire peace, said Saw Maung Gyi, one of the organizers.

Saw A Htunt, from Kawt Sa Kalo Village, said: “We held a protest concerning the confiscated farmlands before. Now, we that have received our farmlands back, we are supporting the 21st Century Panglong [Conference] because we believe the federal union that is being carried out by Mother Su [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] will be great.”

This was the first protest to be held in Karen State with the government’s permission since they took office at the beginning of April.

Over 70 people from 10 villages marched from the Martyrs’ Monument in Hpa-an to Aung Than Lwin Stadium shouting slogans about attaining a federal union and the Panglong spirit.

Plans for similar rallies in Karen State welcoming the peace conference scheduled to start on 31 August is in the works.

Reporting by Nan Wai Phyo Zar for KIC News
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff