Karen leader calls for continued vigilance

Karen leader calls for continued vigilance

Politics

Despite unsigned agreement reached between Rangoon and the Karen National Union last week, Karen top leader Ba Thin Sein has urged its members and the people to resume their alertness, according to his message read out of the 55th anniversary of Karen Resistance which falls today (31 January 2004). 

"The SPDC and the KNU have agreed, in principle, for a ceasefire," reads his prepared speech. "However, I would like to stress that the process of establishing a systematic ceasefire and bringing about a meaningful dialogue may not be smooth and we must not lower our political, organizing and military alertness." 

This is the first public statement made by Ba Thin, who was elected 4 years earlier as KNU's president, since San Pwint, Gen Khin Nyunt's special envoy, made a surprise visit to the group in November. Throughout the period, he has carefully remained in the background. 

The Karen delegation led by his former boss and Vice President Gen Bo Mya had held talks in Rangoon with the country's rulers, 16-21 January. A statement issued on its return also acknowledged "much effort still has to be made" to consolidate "the provisional ceasefire that has been gained." 

Full text of Saw Ba Thin Sein's speech

OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS 

KAREN NATIONAL UNION 

KAWTHOOLEI 

KNU President Saw Ba thin Sein's Speech on 55th Anniversary of Karen Revolution Day

31-1-2004

Dear All the Karen Nationals, Members of the KNU and Officers and Men of the KNLA,

Today is the 55th Anniversary of the Revolutionary Day of the Karen people. On this auspicious and majestic day, I would like to speak something about some of the important matters as follows.

Firstly, I would like to emphatically say that the Karen people's revolutionary resistance is a struggle in self-defense and for restoring the birth rights of the Karen people, and not for unjustly wrecking or robbing the rights and possessions of other peoples.

Secondly, I would like to say that the Karen people's revolutionary resistance is an extension of the correct struggle of the Karen people for the right to decide their own political destiny. By various means, successive regimes in power have tried to slander the Karen people's resistance, by alleging in their propaganda that it is the instigation by 
the imperialists or the insane work of a group of extreme nationalists. After 55 years of struggle, it can be attested that our resistance is a true revolutionary movement that can stand all kinds of trials and tribulations. We must work on for upholding the legitimacy of our revolution in the future as well.

Thirdly, I would like to say that during the 55-year march on the path of our revolutionary struggle, the blood of thousands upon thousands of our heroic comrades and people has fallen to the ground. Our revolution that has 
been cast in the blood of our fallen heroes has become a treasure chest of revolutionary knowledge. I would like to urge you to cull from this 55-year long history of revolution, a knowledge for differentiating between the good 
and the bad, the right and the wrong, the fake and the genuine, the essence and the superfluous etc. and apply your wisdom in the revolution which is yet unfinished.

Fourthly, I would like to affirm that nowadays, the KNU is endeavoring for establishment of a truce for the resolution of the country's political problems through dialogue, in accordance with its stand of resolving political problems justly, by political means. As the first step, the SPDC and the KNU have agreed, in principle, for a cease-fire. However, I would 
like to stress that the process of establishing a systematic cease-fire and bringing about a meaningful dialogue may not be smooth and we must not lower our political, organizing and military alertness.

Finally, I would like to urge you to:

The just revolutionary struggle of the Karen people shall definitely triumph!