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Karenni-Rangoon talks: The 16 point agreement
Politics
Karenni-Rangoon talks: The 16 point agreement
As those concerned for Burma's peace look forward to the upcoming negotiations between its rulers and the Karenni National Progressive Party, one of the three remaining main armed opposition groups along the Thai-Burma border, a look-back on the 16-points agreed upon by the two sides as well as a recount of events that led to the agreement will certainly be a helpful exercise.
 Aung Than Lay |
 Rimond Htoo |
 Hteh Bupeh |
Chronology
| 9 August 1948 | Resistance against Rangoon |
| 26 June 1978 | Break-up with pro-communist faction that later became Karenni Nationalities People's Liberation Front (KNPLF) |
| 1993 October | Deputy Chief of Staff Aung Myat meets MI officers near Loikaw, capital of Karenni |
| 10 November 2003 | Aung Myat meets military representatives in Loikaw |
| 17 November 1993 | Gen Khin Nyunt, during a speech in Loikaw, invites KNPP for further talks |
| 21 November 2003 | Col Thein Swe, Rangoon's military attache in Bangkok, meets Gen Aung Than Lay in Maehongson |
| 10 December 2003 | Aung Myat meets Col Kyaw Win, Deputy MI chief |
| 1995 6 March | Vice Chairman Hte Bupeh and General Secretary Rimond Htoo meet Area Control Command Commander Brig-Gen Maung Kyi and Col Kyaw Win, who is accompanied by Lt-Col Kyaw Thein. The meeting agrees upon the 16-points presented by KNPP |
| 21 March | Hte Bu Peh, in a ceremony marking the ceasefire, presents list of strength and arms to Brig-Gen Maung Kyi: |
| Strength | 7,790 |
| Arms | 8,939 |
Three months later before the 16-points could be implemented, the truce broke down after Rangoon forces entered Karenni territory.
2003
A written message by Karenni Volunteer Peace Service Group to KNPP on 21 December says Rangoon is ready toimplement the agreement made in 1995
The KNPP's 16-demands
1. No further increase of the number of battalions in Kayah State (as
Karenni is known in Rangoon's terminology)
2. No further relocations of villages
3. Deactivation of mines in areas surrounding the Lawpita hydropower
plant
4. Release of Kayah political prisoners
5. Release of KNPP members
6. Non-destruction and non-removal of historic buildings and
records
7. Demarcation of troop positions
8. Non-recruitment of porters and end to collection of porter fees
9. A stop to resettlement in Kayah by outsiders
10 No further setting up of military bases
11. Freedom of livelihood and movement for Karenni people
12. Freedom of movement for KNPP inside Kayah
13. KNPP shall not attack Burmese bases or ambush its troop
movements
14. KNPP shall be responsible for law and order within Karenni
territory
15. KNPP shall be responsible for the support of its own members and
families
16. It shall be a Gentleman's Agreement between the two sides
Karenni a.k.a Kayah is 4,506 square miles (11,670 square kilometers) in area and 246,000 in population, according to The Golden Land of Myanmar, published December 2001. It shares borders with Shan State, Karen State and Thailand's Maehongson province.
Five other armed groups and factions from Karenni participated in the National Convention, 17 May -9 July:
Kayah State Special Regional #1 Kayan
National Guard
Kayah State Special Region #2 KNPLF
KNPP (Naga faction)
KNPP (Hoya faction)
Karenni National Unity League
Poppy cultivation soars in Kayah State