Wednesday, November 16, 2011
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He has been received in more than 20 countries by prime ministers, foreign ministers and government delegations, and has served as a representative not only of the KNU, but also for the exiled National Democratic Front (NDF), the Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) and with a joint-delegation of KNU and National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB).
He spoke recently to The Irrawaddy senior reporter Saw Yan Naing.
Question: The KNU formed a “Committee for the Emergence of Peace” earlier this month after an emergency meeting of the central committee. Why?
Answer: The recent initiative to propose peace talks and subsequent meeting with U Aung Min created the necessity to prepare for laying down a politically coherent and coordinated body to deal with the practical, logistical and political necessities if a new bout of talks develop.
In the past, at times there was a certain dis-coordination and misunderstandings regarding the negotiations due to the fact that meetings and interviews were sometimes contradictory or less clear. Many people were getting involved without proper tasking and without understanding our policy, and this had to be rectified.
Q: What is the objective of the Committee for the Emergence of Peace? How many members does it have and who will lead it?
A: The committee is composed of seven members and is led by KNU Vice Chairman Saw David Thackerbaw. This committee is tasked with the coordination of the whole process and is not a delegation. It will coordinate and set down policy.
Q:We heard the KNU will hold peace talks with the Burmese government. Where and when will the talks take place? Did you receive any invitation from Naypyidaw?
A: on the 19th of this month we will have an informal meeting with U Aung Min, but it will be more to share intentions and clarify our political positions.
Q:How serious is the Burmese government this time? It has approached the KNU for peace talks several times.
A: We still see that it looks like the old divide-and-conquer tactics used in Khin Nyunt times. It looks as if it really is only based on the 2008 constitution, and the non-disintegration of the Union, as well as the non-disintegration of national unity, and the durability of sovereignty.
What started with a ceasefire was followed by economical development like logging, mining and contract farming without any political dialogue.
Q:What are the main issues the KNU will discuss with the government, and what are KNU’s expectations from the talks?
A: We believe that the solution of the county's problems will have to be solved through substantial and meaningful political dialogue on a national level and by all stakeholders, especially the ethnic nationalities. Therefore our position is clear: we feel that there must be a nationwide ceasefire so all stakeholders can freely meet and the political negotiations should be held through one body—the UNFC.
Our political principles remain the same as before: federalism, equality, self-determination. We believe that unilateral talks on a one-to-one basis are self-destructive. In fact, our position has not changed over the last years and is consistent with our constitution and Saw Ba U Gyi's principles.
Q: Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Brigade 5 has already signed a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government.
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