The Karen National Union (KNU) is prepared to reunite with the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (Splinter DKBA), a splinter group of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), if they reject the DKBA’s anti-KNU policies.
KNU Statement
The DKBA was originally formed in 1994 as a splinter group from the KNU. When the DKBA was formed they issued policy announcements 1/94 and 2/94 rejecting the KNU.
The KNU has said that it would be happy for the Splinter DKBA to reunite with the KNU as long as it rejects and retracts announcements 1/94 and 2/94.
But, after splitting from the DKBA, the Splinter DKBA issued a statement on 16 January 2016 that said it would continue to stand by the declarations made by the DKBA when it split from the KNU in 1994.
KNU Joint Secretary (1) Padoh Saw Thawthi Bwe said that it was up to the Splinter DKBA to decide whether it wants to reunite with the KNU, but that if it does it would have to accept being under the KNU’s wing and leadership.
He said: “If they [the Splinter DKBA] revoke their stance [expressed in announcements 1/94 and 2/94] the KNU will welcome them if they want to reunite with us.”
A statement from the KNU on allowing the Splinter DKBA to reunite with them was released after the matter was discussed at a Central Executive Committee meeting on 29 September.
Recently the Splinter DKBA have been fighting the combined forces of the Burma Army and local Border Guard Forces (BGF) in Karen State, whereas the KNU signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the Burmese government in October 2015.
Marn Thein Zaw, chairman of Thwee Community Development Network from Kawkareik Township, said: “We welcome San Aung’s group (the Splinter DKBA) if they want to reunite with the KNU. We have been calling for the unification of Karen armed groups for a long time now. We believe there will be more unity between the Karen people if they reunite. As a member of the Karen public and a social organisation, I want to see it [the unification]. I want to request it.”
Previously, on 26 January 2013, Karen armed organisations established the United Committee for Karen Armed Groups, with the aim of working towards uniting Karen ethnic armed groups.
Reporting by S’Phan Shaung for KIC News
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
