All Karen people need to play their part in ensuring the successful implementation of the nationwide peace between ethnic people and the government prior to the formation of a new government, said General Mutu Say Poe, Chair of the Karen National Union (KNU)in his message observing Karen National Day which falls on January 13th.

Currently, the KNU and other ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have suspended armed struggles and observed a ceasefire. General Mutu said “They are engaged in talks with the government to establish ethnic rights by political means”.

“A ceasefire is not a genuine peace. We can achieve genuine peace only when the ethnic people including Karen people are respected and recognized, and fully enjoy freedom, equality and self-determination. These rights should be enshrined clearly and exactly in the Constitution.”

Karen people have any legal protection and rights throughout our history. In addition, the Karen people did not get the political, economic and human rights.

Karen nationals tried every possible way to enjoy these rights. At last the KNU chose the armed struggle means. The KNU formed by Karen national leaders had long been engaging in the armed resistance movements for more than 70 years, he continued.

Together with other EAOs, the KNU is in political talks with the government over peace, national equality, self-determination and autonomy after signing a ceasefire agreement with the government. In such a period every Karen national needs to play their part in the peace process, he urged.