Gusmao

Gusmao's election energizes the Karens

The leader of the Karens fighting for autonomy in strife-torn Burma has lately conveyed a letter of felicitations to East Timor's independence leader Xanana Gusmao on his election as the nation's first president last month, reported a highly placed Karen source. 

Saw Ba Thin Sein, President of the Karen National Union, complimented Gusmao as "an international symbol for courage, dedication and resistance against oppression and tyranny" in his communication, dated 2 May, a copy of which was received by S.H.A.N. yesterday. 

He also maintained that "the just cause of self-determination ... you have relentlessly pursued (for) the people of East Timor (is) the same goal we are striving for the Karen people in Burma." 

The Karens, through their ambassador Saw Zarkis, are reportedly quite close to the East Timorese movement and several of its leaders including Nobel laureate Dr Ramos Horta, with whom he had a personal long-standing relationship. He has also been invited to several important functions including the celebration of the first year of Independence on 31 August 2000 in Dili, where he was one of the guest speakers in the closing ceremony. 

The Shans had also sent their letter of felicitations earlier through their ambassador Sai Wansai, who also doubled as the General Secretary of the Shan Democratic Union. 

According to him Self Determination does not necessarily mean "secession, total independence or that a nation be given statehood," It also encompasses different degrees of autonomy, including federations and even unitary states. It "may be stressed and bent according to the wish of the people concerned," he wrote.