Karen leaders stress this is only first step
A Burmese official (R) exchanges documents
with a representative of the Karen National Union after signing a
ceasefire agreement in the city of Hpa-an, Burma, on Jan. 12. (Soe Than
Win/AFP/Getty Images)
The government of Burma signed a ceasefire agreement with the Karen
National Union (KNU), an armed ethnic group located in the eastern part
of the country, essentially ending a six-decadelong armed conflict.
Both the KNU and the government agreed to the terms, following talks
between both sides. The KNU has been attempting to establish its own
state since the year after Burma (also known as Myanmar) broke away from
British rule in 1948.
In the agreement, both sides will allow patrols and passage through
each other’s territories. The KNU will also establish communication
offices in government-controlled areas.
“The people have experienced the horrors of war a long time. I’m sure
they’ll be very glad to hear this news. I hope they’ll be able to fully
enjoy the sweet taste of peace this time,” a KNU leader, Saw David
Htaw, told Reuters.
Nevertheless, in a statement issued by the KNU, reported by Karen
News, Htaw stressed that the day’s conclusion is only the first step.
“I’m cautious, very cautious, there is no certainty, we’re still not sure of the real agenda,” he said.
“Our past experience has been that the real power always lies in the
hands of the military hard-liners and the in the past they have not
hesitated to use guns against ethnic people. The [Burma army] offensive
against the Kachin is very brutal. The Burma army has moved almost
two-thirds of its soldiers there,” he added.
In the past month, there have been reports that the Burmese army has
attacked the Kachin Independence army, another ethnic separatist group,
and also recently tried to take over a base held by the group. Since
June, fighting between the government and the Kachin army has forced the
displacement of more than 45,000 people.
News of the ceasefire was greeted positively by Western governments
as Burma’s military-backed civilian government continues to make
progress toward meeting the conditions stipulated by the United States
and European governments to see economic, political, and military
sanctions lifted.
“This is a good step, and we welcome it,” said U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland at Thursday’s press briefing.
Nuland added that peace with ethnic groups had been a central topic
of conversation when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Burma a
few months ago.
In addition to ending conflicts with various ethnic groups, including
the Karen, the terms of the sanctions are all political prisoners must
be freed, and establish a dialogue with the opposition. Some, but not
the majority of prisoners have been released and Aung San Suu Kyi,
considered the main opposition leader, has been cleared to run in
Parliamentary by-elections in April.
Over the past 60 plus years, there were five failed attempts at peace talks between the KNU and the former military junta.
Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, a contributor for the Irrawaddy, a Thailand-based
magazine considered an authoritative voice on Burma, writes that while
the ceasefire seems promising, there is still a lot of skepticism about
the current Burmese government. Therefore, if a ceasefire agreement is
put in place without the proper political processes, he argues, it would
essentially amount to the KNU surrendering, leaving them defenseless
against further human rights abuses.
One “reason for concern is that while the international community has
got very excited about changes happening in Burma, even praising
President Thein Sein, for many ethnic people life under Thein Sein has
got much worse,” Phan writes.
“Maybe a few more websites are now available in Burma. Maybe they can
print pictures of Aung San Suu Kyi in newspapers, and hold a film
festival. But balance that against what has been happening out of sight
in ethnic states,” Phan adds.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague last week flew to Burma and
met with its president and other top officials, offering hope that there
will be more reforms in the future. He called for the release of all
political prisoners and for credible elections in April.
