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KNU Statement on DKBA Situation

1. From the inception of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) up to now, as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) military dictatorship has been using it for attacking and killing fellow Karen people, many DKBA members and their families have to suffer much misery and damages.

2. As there has been uneven distribution of favors between leaders and followers, and among the members, there has been a growth of diverse views, creeds and practices between those who have income and no income, who enjoy favor and no favor, and those maintaining integrity and those wallowing in lawlessness, resulting in erosion of unity among the DKBA members.

3. Initially, though it is true that the DKBA had been able to revive Karen cultural heritage and make effort for giving a certain protection to the Karen people from oppression and lawless acts by the SPDC, there have been more and more members in the DKBA, who are not Karen, as time marches on. We can see this development as a clear evidence of plot by the SPDC to eliminate the Karen as a people and to quickly subject the entire DKBA, under control of the SPDC military dictatorship.

4. Now, the SPDC is working hard for legalizing the military dictatorship through 2010 elections and as it has to abolish the so-called peace groups including the DKBA and transform them into Border Guard Force under the ministry of defense, the DKBA is in a situation facing the fate of bondage slavery, by evil machination of the SPDC.

5. The DKBA should simulate the UWSA, Kokant, SSA-North etc. - the northern ceasefire organizations, which are currently taking measures to join hands with the local populations concerned and stand independent, in order to avoid losing their self-determination and the fate of becoming slaves of the SPDC.

6. Whatever it may be, the KNU bears much concern for the current situation of the DKBA members and their families. Accordingly, we earnestly urge all concerned to study the entire condition and actively work for prevention of elimination of the Karen, as a people, and uniting the entire Karen people under the flag of Karen revolution.

7. In conclusion, we would like to tell the DKBA that it is time for it to consider its aims and the actual conditions objectively, listen to the voice of the Karen people and stand for the Karen people’s interest.

Central Executive Committee
Karen National Union

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