Karen reach democratic crossroads next week
Disturbing news about next week’s Karen National Union Congress points to a widening rift between the Karen people and their leadership. Representatives of the huge number of Karen people who have fled Karen state and other areas of Myanmar will no longer be able to vote at the congress.
This matters because the KNU executive committee under chairman Mutu Say Poe has chosen a path of appeasement with Myanmar’s military – against the wishes of other Karen leaders.
It is well known that Karen living outside the country mistrust the Mutu clique. They cite evidence that the Mutu faction only gained power through electoral fraud at the last congress, and also that they had no authority to sign a preliminary ceasefire with the regime – which in the years since has not been implemented. During this period the Myanmar army greatly expanded its bases in Karen state, say overseas Karen organisations. They also claim the Mutu clique has focused on personal business opportunities and interests, and ignored the exploitation of Karen villagers, including through land theft.
In summary, Karen attending from overseas seek a return to the original principles of the “Karen Revolution” and would be likely to vote against the clique. Hence Mutu’s actions to deny them their voting rights.
The KNU’s duty is to represent all Karen as their political organisation. Therefore, the votes at the congress must be free and fair, and they must truly represent the entire people. The Karen have an opportunity to attain adherence to democratic principles that has not yet been achieved anywhere in Myanmar. The ethnic group that the Burman rulers have historically disparaged the most can lead the way in implementing real democracy for the country.
Roland Watson
(www.dictatorwatch.org)
