“If the government really wants peace, they should prove it with actions,” the commander of the Karen National Liberation Army’s 5th Brigade, Major Saw KlerDoh, told Mizzima in an interview in Papun District, in northern Kayin State, on March 4.

“The government thinks we should trust each other; but they should prove that they deserve our trust,” Major Saw KlerDoh said in the interview, published in Mizzima Daily on March 10.

“But they should prove that they deserve our trust; they never complied with the demands we made during our peace talks,” he said.

Major Saw KlerDoh said the Tatmadaw had more than 80 positions in the 5th Brigade area.

“We demanded that they withdraw seven of them, but they never did,” he said.

“They even expanded their presence. If they act like this, how can we trust them?” the commander said, acknowledging that he doubted the Tatmadaw trusted the KNU.

government to have peace talks but we are yet to sign a ceasefire agreement and it’s uncertain whether there will be a ceasefire.

“Only if both sides are since, can we proceed on the road to a peace agreement.”

Major Saw KlerDoh said the KNU had submitted a code of conduct for a ceasefire to the government at talks in the Kayin State capital, Hpa-an, on September 3, 2012.

“But they never discussed it or confirmed that they agreed with the code of conduct,” he said.

Major Saw KlerDoh said the KNU did not launch its revolt against the government in 1949 for economic reasons.

“Equality and self governance are our aims; we will not let the government develop Karen State economically until we reach our goal,” he said.

“When we gain the rights we ask for, the KNU is perfectly capable of developing the region economically.”