8/14/2019 KNLA Bde5 Press Release 130709

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EMBARGOED UNTIL JULY 13, 2009

Mutraw District, the Karen National Union (KNU)/5th Brigade, Karen National Liberation Army

(KNLA)s View, Determination, and Decision

Concerning the Challenges Faced by the Karen People Upon the Burmese Military Regimes

Systematic Attacks in Pa-an District/ 7

th

Brigade and Aftermath

July 4, 2009

For further information, please contact Major Saw Kler Doh of KNLA 5th Brig. at 66-(0) 81-201-5940

5th Brigade, KNLA District and Brigade leadership held an emergency meeting at the Brigades

Operational Command Center on June 30, 2009 to review recent military offensives by joint forces of

State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) in

Pa-an District/7th Brigade, that drove more than 3,000 Karen civilians out of their homes and villages,

and ongoing destruction of peoples livelihoods in and outside Karen State inside Burma. After acareful review of such dire circumstances, and recognizing that SPDC has no plan to end such attacks

anytime soon, the combined KNLA 5th Brigade and civilian leadership declare that it is prepared to

defend the integrity and interests of Karen people at all costs, including militarily.

After the emergency meeting, Mutraw Districts Chairperson Saw Tender shared his view: We hope

that our people will understand our determination to fight against the SPDCs destructive plans and

that they will join hands with us in the fight against such evil.

Maj. General Baw Kyaw Heh, the Commander of 5 th Brigade, further commented: The problem

faced by our people is the problem faced by our nation. We need to think carefully and act

decisively.

It must be recognized that the ongoing SPDCs military offensives against the Karen people are parts

and parcels of the broader Burmas political problems faced by the people of Burma. It is also crucial

to recognize that SPDC systematically plans and uses Karen and non-Karen armed groups such as

DKBA to loot and destroy our villages, livelihood, and to essentially take complete control over our

land. While situations in and around Karen state are critical, such SPDC's military tactics are also

prevalent in other ethnic areas of Burma.

As we are resolved to prevent the SPDC from implementing its destructive plots and defend our

people to the best of our skills, we call on the international community, particularly our neighboringcountries, to stand by the people of Burma in their search for security, freedom and prosperity.

The Karen National Union (KNU) was founded on February 5, 1947 in order to lead the Karen

national struggle for justice, equality, and the right to self-determination. The Karen National

Liberation Army (KNLA) has been fighting against the Burmese military regime for over 60 years.