Residents and monks from 30 Karen villages have called for all Karen armed groups to join under a single banner in order to stop drug running and help restore law and order. They expressed their demands in a petition that was signed at a public event in Karen State’s Kawkareik Township, marking the first time a public activity demanding unity among Karen armed groups has been held.
On May 31, over 400 residents and monks from 30 villages in northern Kawkareik Township signed a petition calling on the various Karen armed groups—including the Karen National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Benevolence Army (DKBA), the KNU/KNLA Peace Council (PC), and the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF)—to unite into a single armed force.
The villagers submitted their signatures at Tohkawko Monastery, where Karen News spoke with Sayadaw U Thondara, the Monastery’s Abbott. Sayadaw U Thondara said that all the armed groups should unite for the sake of unity, the well-being of the Karen nation, and to ensure that law and order is in place to protect citizens.
“On behalf of the public, I must insist that [although] these areas have long suffered because of civil war, things have calmed down now. Therefore, the public doesn’t need to depend on so many armed groups. Law and order will be achieved if we Karen people establish a united armed force. After that we can work fully together,” Sayadaw U Thondara said.
In their petition, the villagers demanded reconciliation among all Karen armed groups; the establishment of a common “judicial system” for Karen people; a moratorium on the activities of forestry companies; a prohibition on illegal drugs; and the cessation of plans to construct a dam on the Pa-ta River.
Saw Thein Than Soe, an administrator from Nabu Takhundine Village, spoke with Karen News regarding his community’s concerns about increasing drug use, gambling, and the general lack of law enforcement in the area.
“We’re calling on all the armed groups that have splintered off from the Karen National Union (KNU) to unite. We believed that law enforcement can be achieved for local villagers if a united armed group was successfully established.”
Recently, Karen armed groups led by KNU Chief-of-Staff General Saw Johnny; Brigadier General Saw Yin Nu from the KNU/KNLA Peace Council; Brigadier General Tun Hlaing from the Karen BGF; DKBA General Maung Kya; and other commanders from different military units participated in a joint activity to consult with villagers about drug issues and advocate against drugs.
