Karen National Union (KNU) has urged the Karen people to cast their votes for Karen ethnic parties in the upcoming election, according to the statement issued by the KNU on the five-year anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) which falls on October 15.

The KNU urged the people to strive to acquire the ethnic equality and self-determination step by step by casting their votes for Karen nationals and Karen parties in the election held under the 2008 Constitution, the statement says.

Saw Say War, Vice-Chair of the Karen People’s Party said: “We happily welcome the KNU’s support for Karen parties and Karen candidates. Karen parties have to stand for the rights of Karen people.”

The KNU which staged the armed struggles for equal rights and self-determination for more than 60 years, reached a State-level ceasefire with the government on 12 January, 2012. Under the authority of KNU are the liberated zones protected by their armed wing KNLA (The Karen National Liberation Army) one of many EAOs in Myanmar. The KNU signed the Union-level Ceasefire Agreement five years ago in 2015.

Thoolei News which is a social media page of the KNU ‘s Organizing and Information Department has urged the people to cast their votes for Karen parties. They frequently upload posts about the activities of Karen parties.

At the ceremony to mark the 72nd Anniversary of the Karen National Day, Phado Saw Tawni, member of the Central Committee and in-charge of Foreign Affairs Department of the KNU said: “Karen people will have to be self- reliant to achieve our goals.”

The KNU urges the people to participate in the political talks through unity and a firm stance for a federal system in accord with the First President of the KNU Saw Ba U Gyi and the guidance of 16th Congress of the KNU.

Eight EAOs including the KNU signed the NCA with the government in Nay Pyi Taw on 15 October, 2015. After that, the government has removed the KNU from the list of unlawful associations.