The KNU/KNLA Peace Council in a statement on October 20 made it abundantly clear that it will not accept the Burmese military junta’s proposal of converting to the Border Guard Force.
Gen. Ye Myint and Gen. Khin Zaw led a delegation of 20 high ranking officers to meet Brigadier Gen. Saw Htay Maung of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council in Pa-an, Karen State on October 1. The statement reiterated the Peace Council’s stand that it would not accept the junta’s proposal of transforming to the Border Guard Force.
The Peace Council in its statement elaborated why it cannot accept the BGF proposal. It is because Karen people don't want Karen soldiers to be under the Burmese Army. It also clarified that the Council does not trust the role of exercising democracy, which controls ethnic rights; army controls can lead to endless complications and conflicts; and it can be an obstacle to the implementation of the 2010 democratic process.
If Gen. Ye Myint's transformation proposal is accepted, there will be an increase in violence and killing in Karen State. After DKBA accepted the conversion to BGF, violence against Karen people and clashes mounted. There is evidence that Karen people have been killed in Brigade 1, 2, 3 and 5 regions in Karenn State.
"Even though DKBA has joined hands with the junta to fight the KNU, we are serving the Karen people. While we cannot do much but we are trying to set up development projects to the best of our ability. I don't want Karen’s to fight each other," a member of DKBA told KIC.
The KNU/KNLA Peace Council urged the military regime not to try and resolve Burma's internal problems by way of violence. It needs to be solved through meaningful dialogue and peaceful discussions.
Pa Doh Saw Dawt Laymu, KNU's Associate Secretary II, welcomed the Peace Council's statement. "Everybody knows that the junta is attempting to bring ethnic ceasefire groups under its control for implementing the 2010 election process. We welcome the Peace Council's rejection of the regime’s proposal but some sort of pressure may come their way."
The junta proposed transformation to the BGF to the Peace Council last May. The Council rejected the proposal. According to the statement, the Peace Council will continue to hold on to the four principles of the Karen leader Saw Ba Oo Gyi and work towards implementing development projects.
The Brigadier Gen. Saw Htay Maung led KNU/KNLA Peace Council split from the KNU and signed a ceasefire agreement with the regime on 11 February 2007. The Peace Council is based in Hto Kaw Koo village in Pa-an district.
