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Statement of the topical events

For the people within and without the country to have a clear knowledge of the topical events, the KNU issued the following statement.

In the year 2004 the KNU had made a gentlemen’s agreement with the SPDC. From this juncture both sides had taken constructive steps forward, the KNU had put its effort with the aspiration to solving the problem of the Karen people and the political problem of the country in a fair and just manner by political means.

While doing such effort, from the month of February, 2006 the SPDC troops had launched military offensive against the Karen people resulting in nearly 20,000 Karen villagers had to flee their villages abandoning their homes and properties. At the same time the SPDC made slanderous allegations, painting the KNU black in press conferences and news media.

From this state, during the first week of July 2006, they sent some Karen Doctors residing in Singapore and Rangoon to meet Gen. Bo Mya and persuade him to come to Rangoon for medical treatment with the intention to having a meeting with some military officers accompanying Gen. Bo Mya. Making Gen. Bo Mya travel by plane, and the remaining personnel to proceed on the 12th of July with the arrangement to stage a grand welcoming ceremony at Myenigon (275) Light Infantry Battalion HQ, Thingan Nyi Naung, and then in Kaw Kareik and again in Rangoon. Gen. Bo Mya as well as the KNU leaders were not aware of this arrangement. The odd conspiracy was rejected by Gen Bo Mya and the plan was failed.

After which on 14 July 2006, G1 Col. Myat Tun Oo came over and had a meeting with some KNLA officers. At this meeting, the KNLA officers made it known that had the visit was for talks between the SPDC and KNU he need to make contact through proper channel with recognized contact officer and then meet with the KNU leaders. Col. Myat Tun Oo replied that he did not want to meet with KNU leaders but to meet with army officials only. He later went back on the 16th of July 2006.

On the part of Col. Myat Tun Oo failing to make contact through proper channel-only to coordinate and speak with military officials-without making Gen Mya know in advance and having his consent, of the arrangement for him to go to Rangoon for medical treatment. All these activities seemed rather odd.

If the SPDC sincerely wanted to have talks with KNU, they needed to cease their current military offensive. They needed to cease their killing and driving away the Karen people from their homes and villages. They need to have respect for the KNU, as well as the KNLA and the Karen people. For making contact, they need to go through the recognized proper channel, then and only then it will be trusted and accepted.

In conclusion, the Karen people greatly wanted freedom, justice and equality, unity and peace. In accordance with this stand it will join hands and work in harmony with all the ethnic nationalities, all the people and all the political parties. Continuously, it will not tolerate unlawful oppression against itself, the Karen resistance or the Karen people militarily. Also, against dirty divide and rule method. Reminding and urging members of the KNU be it for the resistance, be it for the Karen people, to have political awareness, organization awareness, a firm resistance morale, a firm political stand, not to become victims of divide and rule and continue the struggle until the end with solidarity.

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