Top Karen commanders pledge loyalty to leadership

No.05 - 2/2007
11 February 2007
Politics
 
Top Karen commanders pledge loyalty to leadership
 
Apparently to dispel all existing doubts about its internal unity, following a recent separate agreement between its 7th Brigade commander and the Burma Army, the Karen National Union has released a 3-page document signed by its top commanders in support of their political leadership last August and September.
 

^{Brig-Gen Saw Hsar Gay}
The document, signed by 19 officers, "reiterate our full confidence in our current leadership, the EC (Executive Committee) and CC (Central Committee)"
 
Among the signatories were Saw Mutu, General Officer Commanding; all brigade commanders minus Saw Htein Maung, Commander of the 7th Brigade, who in January concluded a solitary deal with the Burma Army; and all 5 battalion commanders from the 7th Brigade.
 
"It was an initiative by some GHQ (General Headquarters) officers to effectively counter rumors circulating in the media about the impending split between the movement's political and military wings," explained Brig-Gen Saw Hsar Gay, who heads the Special Warfare Section. "The GOC himself put down his signature at a later stage in order not to try to influence his subordinate officers."
 
The Karen National Union (KNU) has steadfastly insisted that the junta deal with it directly and not with its individual units. Despite a gentleman's agreement reached in late 2003, the group has been facing a continued military offensive since last February.