Although the government has banned using the term “martyr” in the celebration of 69th Karen Martyrs’ Day, an event using the term was held at the Maha Bandula Park, in front of City Hall, in Yangon, on Monday morning August 12.
Over one hundred Karen people joined the event where participants lowered the Karen national flag to half mast, read a message [letter] and laid a wreath flowers to pay respect to those who gave their lives in the Karen revolution. Participants also marched around the park.
“The event is usually held in the city hall [but] the Yangon Region administrator informed us that the [Region] Chief Minister did not [allow permission for the] event for this year,” said Naw Ohn Hla, the event’s lead organizer.
Naw Ohn Hla added the event was initially planned to be held at the Magway monastery but the Yangon Regional government opposed the event because of its title, Karen Martyr’s Day. Representatives from the government office in Kyaktada asked the organizing committee to exclude the term “martyr” when they requested permission to hold the event in front of Yangon City Hall.
According to Daw Moe Myat Myat Thu, the Minister of Kayin Ethnic Affairs, Ayeyarwady Region, some members of the Karen Literature and Culture committee planned to hold a Karen Martyrs ‘Saw Ba U Gyi’ Day event. But a letter signed by administrator of Ayeyarwady Township, on behalf of the [region’s] Chief Minister dated August 08, 2019 addressed to the Karen Literature and Culture’s township level committee was informed they must follow the general administrators’s rules and regulations, and not to use the term of Karen Martyr for the event.
“The event was allowed to [be] organized in the previous year. But now, why isn’t it allowed? Without embracing and understanding ethnic’s views, the road to [a] federal journey is still out of reach” said Mhen Kyaw Nyein, a General Secretary of the Karen National Party (KNU).
“There is no announcement regarding the restriction on the term “Karen Martyrs’ Day”. And there is no explanation to the banning of respective locations. We only know that the event is not allowed to be held” Mhen Kyaw Nyein added.
The KNU has celebrated “Karen Martyrs’ Day” every year since signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in October of 2015. However, the government only began to ban some events using the term “Karen Martyrs’ Day” beginning last year.
Despite this ban, a “69th Karen Martyrs’ Day” was held in Ah-Don-Kwin-Kalay village in Myawaddy Township, in the Karen National Liberation Army Battalion No (6)-controlled area. KNU Chairman, Saw Mutu Say Poe Saw noted that to fulfill the goals and hopes of the Karen Martyrs and to achieve their political goals people must unite and work together.
In addition, the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) in To Kaw Koe-Naw Ta Ya, Karen State also celebrated their “69th Karen Martyrs’ Day” on Monday morning in an event that included an army parade..
The event marked the deaths of the Karen leaders, Saw Ba U Gyi and Major General Sai Kay, both of whom were killed while serving in the Karen revolution in To Kaw Koe village, Kawkareik Township, Karen State on August 12, 1950.
