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File photo shows Karen National Union soldiers near the Thailand-Burmese border. (Photo: Yuzo / The Irrawaddy)
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KNU Willing to Talk, but not on Burmese Territory
| By
LAWI WENG |
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
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The Karen National Union’s deputy chairman, David Takapaw, has welcomed Thailand’s offer to mediate talks between the KNU and the Burmese regime, but said they would have to be held outside Burma.
“We are always ready for peace talks,” he told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. “But we will not attend any talks in Burma at this time. Talks must be held in another country.”
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who met Burmese government leaders in Naypyidaw at the weekend, said he would approach the KNU in the hope of getting talks started. It was in Thailand’s interest for peace to reign in Burma, he said.
Thai army officials recently asked Karen rebel leaders living in the Thai border town of Mae Sot to return to KNU-controlled areas of Karen State. The rebels belong to the KNU’s armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).
Burmese researcher Aung Thu Nyein said the Thai government’s efforts to help bring about peace talks between the Burmese regime and the KNU would increase pressure on KNU leaders who live in Thailand.
“Thailand needs border stability for trade with the Burmese regime,” he said. “From an economic point of view, this might put more pressure on the KNU leaders to talk to the regime.”
The KNU has engaged in peace talks with the Burmese regime four times since the present regime took power in 1988.
The late chairman of the KNU, Gen Saw Bo Mya, held peace talks with regime leaders in Rangoon in 2005, two years before his death. Contacts have been at a standstill since then.
Takapaw said whenever the KNU talked to the regime “they always insist that we give up our arms and return to the ‘legal fold.’ But how we can agree to live under a regime that isn’t the official government?”
Takapaw said that if the KNU agreed to talks on Burmese territory the Burmese negotiators would have the upper hand. “Such a meeting wouldn’t be on equal terms,” he said.
The KNU has been in conflict with the Burmese army for more than 50 years. It turned to guerrilla tactics after regime forces overran its headquarters in 1995.
Burmese army offensives have been accompanied by the destruction of Karen villages, displacement of local populations, the killing of civilians and other serious human rights abuses. More than 100,000 Karen villagers have sought refuge in camps along the Thai-Burmese border.
 COMMENTS (21)
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Good points you brought up on 25/03/2009
Okkar,
The analogy between current US foreign policy in Asia and Thailand’s pressure on the KNU made sense to me. However, how do you think Thailand’s current warfare with Cambodia also changes Thai policy towards the Burma?
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| SPDC soldiers are fighting in order to get rice. They don't really want to fight, but they have no choice, so they risk their lives to enter Karen State. |
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naingmya Wrote: |
05/04/2009 |
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| Whom to fight? Extremists only like to fight each other. You can never achieve what you guys want. |
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We KNU have one thing in our mind. If we die today, we are born tomorrow. Never ever surrender. We will fight until the last breath. All ethnics in Burma and the pro-democracy movement, stand together.
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naingmya Wrote: |
31/03/2009 |
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Saw Bayint Naung,
I totally support your idea. |
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| Okkar, Naingma, Saw Bayint Naung (Ka Yin A Tu), Than Shwe, Maung Aye: Karens and Rohingyas are very strong. We are stronger than you think. Some Karens who do not have patriotic spirits will talk to the junta, not Rohingyas. |
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| "Democractic Karen Muslim Army" fighting for the rights and freedom of lost ethnic group "Kayingya," who have been living in Karen states for decades and now they are looking to form an Kayingya Islamic State to practice Sharia law. KKK, you should go and join them! |
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naingmya Wrote: |
25/03/2009 |
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Burma will not invade any countries, including Thailand. Burma and Thailand are good neighbors. We love Thai people and Thai people love us, too. Opposition groups will see that our friendship will bring regional development for global security and development.
For those people who are bluffing blindly, Burma does not need to invade Thailand. It just needs to raise the flag in front of Burmese people's homes where they have been living on Thai soil for a long time; Thailand will automatically fall under Burma. It doesn't need a single gun shot. |
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Saw Bayint Naung Wrote: |
25/03/2009 |
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I wonder if the Muslim people from the Naf River region can integrate with the KNU Christians?
If this integration ever takes place, I can definitely forecast that another insurgent group named the "Democratic Karen Muslim Army" will emerge.
Dear KKK, go stay there at the Naf River and don't mess with our KNU-SPDC peace negotiations. |
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Justice Thai Wrote: |
25/03/2009 |
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| To greedy Thailand: Don't forget the words "Sufficient Economic," or you won't have any land, like Thaksin. |
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This just goes to show how much most of you are in touch with current events and regional defense and politics. Thailand is a proxy for the US, just as Burma is a client state to China. A new cold war is already dawning between China and US. Just as in the previous cold war, its the proxies and client states that will do the fighting.
As for the KNU, it can no longer count on the Thais to come to their help. In front is the bayonet of the Burmese Army, to the back is the boot of the Thai Army. In between, the KNU have to decide whether or not it makes sense to carry on with their fruitless war. The KNU is now at a crossroads. They can come out of this as a legal organization or they can pass into the pages of history as a mere armed insurgency that was obliterated by the Burmese Army. Either way, opposition groups should realize that Thailand will no longer entertain the use of their border as a safe haven. |
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| The good relationship between Burma and China doesn't mean that China will fight Thailand for Burma. Burmese military power cannot compete with Thai military power. |
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Saw Bayint Naung Wrote: |
25/03/2009 |
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"They always insist that we give up our arms and return to the legal fold."
If so, how about the UWSA? Do they have to give up their arms? Or the KIA and others?
"How can we agree to live under a regime that isn't the official government?
Are the insurgents official?
As a man on the street, I hope all the parties involved are sincere and see the broader picture for the future of The Union of Myanmar or Burma whatever name it may be. |
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How can Okkar come across with the idea of war between Thailand and Burma and say Thais are afraid of Burmese?
I don't see any reason for fighting between Thailand and Burma, especially during the period of global economic recession. For what?
In terms of military, economy, geography and unity, the Thais are well above the Burmese. Start fighting in the morning and have lunch the same day in Bangkok is a joke or a dream of a crazy Burmese ex-general.
I have been living in Thailand for 15 years and I have never heard that Thais are more eager to please Burmese than Karens. |
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| Be bold and be strong, KNU. You have been fighting against the junta for more than fifty years. We Rohingyas support you with all our hearts and we will be with you. Let's show our courage. |
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Moe Aung Wrote: |
25/03/2009 |
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Okkar,
Love the sabre-rattling. Let's open two fronts in a "win-win scenario," one with Thailand and another with Bangladesh. What about the UWSA? Why not a hat-trick - KNU, SSA-S and UWSA? |
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kaw thaw Wrote: |
25/03/2009 |
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| Another good SPDC apologist. How can Burma afford a war with Thailand when its army barely has enough to eat? If war ever broke out between the two I don't think Thailand would need to work much. Just provide the material support and the KNU and SSA can take care of the rest of the business. |
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Yang Sai Wrote: |
25/03/2009 |
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Okkar is totally wrong. David is totally right. The reason is David's strategy reflects the reality. He spoke based on his experience of talking with the Burmese at least four times. It's true that the Burmese regime cannot be trusted anymore. More and more ceasefire groups should follow the KNU, which views from the perspective of the country, not the perspective of the pocket. The perspective of the pocket is now getting those groups in trouble.
Thailand doesn't care that much about business with Burma since 90% of its GDP relies on the West. Burma has to care about Thailand since 75% of its GDP (directly and indirectly) relies on Thailand. I could give you detailed statistics if you want, Okkar. |
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The KNU should be careful about the terms of contracts for dealing with the Burmese government. I think this is a good time for the KNU to start thinking about bringing peace to the Karen people.
I guess the Thais are partially right, pushing them back to their own territory so they can have a close connection with their own people. Mae Sot is definitely not a better choice.
When he said the regime is not the official government, that also applies to the KNU, which is also not the official government.
So instead of waiting with arms open wide for peace talks, I believe the KNU should approach the regime and work it out. Seems like the KNU has nothing to lose now, so why not give it a shot? Maybe they can get something out of it. |
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the learner Wrote: |
24/03/2009 |
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The trends (the interest) are currently on business (profit) for the Thais. It is fair for them to do whatever they think will help build their wealth for the time being.
Now I realize that the greed of some people is causing the moral and material destruction of Burma and Thailand.
It looks like they don't care about the future of ordinary citizens and the possible (some already known) social and material dangers. |
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David Takapaw is out of touch with reality. He still seems to think KNU can rely on the Thais and make silly demands. The reality is that Thais are more eager to please Burmese then the Karens. The ever-growing power project of Burma's armed forces and their very close ties with China made Thailand quake in their boots. They are afraid of Burma, with support from China, using KNU and other armed rebels at the Thai border as a pretext to invade Thailand.
Thailand could ill afford a war with Burma, especially during the global economic downturn. That is why the Thais are pushing off the rebels from their soil. I think, SSA will be the next target.
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