Criticism arose among the Karen community after the leaders of the Karen Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army headed to Naypyidaw to meet the coup leader Min Aung Hlaing for the second time.
A Karen man staying in Korea says “There is nothing to discuss with the culprit who is burning down and destroying the entire country. It feels like they are approaching the military to seek for opportunities. As a Karen, I am ashamed of Karen organizations’ disunity. If they decide to take certain opportunities like accepting to join BGF, they will be punished by the people one day. Min Aung Hlaing is facing dire situations every day. He is already in deep trouble in all aspects”.
Last May, leader of the military council Min Aung Hlaing invited the ethnic armed organizations to discuss with him to achieve lasting peace and end the armed conflict.
After the invitation of the military leader, 7 NCA-signed ethnic armed organizations including KNU/KNLA-PC and DKBA and 3 ethnic armed groups who have not signed the ceasefire agreement yet decided to meet with the military council.
“At this time, it will be best if they don’t go and meet him. Min Aung Hlaing is not only a traitor to the people and the country, but also a violator of human rights. He is working to the complete destruction of the country and even the world is monitoring now. If PC and DKBA keep working with Min Aung Hlaing, they may face international actions in the future like him. It’s not good for Karen people”, a religious leader also comments.
The KNU/KNLA-PC delegation led by Vice-President Dr. Naw Ka Por Htoo and the DKBA delegation led by Chief of Staff General Saw Stee will discuss peace processes with the military council, according to the military controlled state media.
But certain political analysts are criticizing that some ethnic leaders decide to meet with military leader Min Aung Hlaing during current political situations.
However, KNU/KNLA PC Secretary Major Saw Kyaw Nyunt said to KIC that the August 29 meeting with the military leader was aimed to resolve Myanmar's political crisis and should not be neglected.
Likewise, Colonel Saw Sein Win, spokesperson of DKBA explains that they don’t want to resolve the current political crisis in Myanmar through armed conflict and decide to hold talks with the military leader Min Aung Hlaing.
A local woman in Pha-An Township says “Perhaps they may have a strong desire to stand with the revolution forces. But if they decide to do so, they need to consider the consequences. I think that’s why they have to maintain relations with the military council. Everything is not that simple in reality”.
There is no Karen organization including armed groups that want to see Karen people suffering and fleeing, she said. She also concludes that Karen organizations make decisions based on practicality rather than validity and choose to meet with the military council for the best interest of the Karen people.
Based on current political situations, the Karen National Union (KNU) did not accept Min Aung Hlaing’s invitation for peace and has no plan to meet with the military leader at all, according to the group’s spokesperson Padoh Saw Taw Nee.
KNU/KNLA-PC from May 26 to 28 and DKBA from June 19 to 21 respectively met for the first time with the National Unity and Peace Coordinating Committee of the military council including Min Aung Hlaing.
While DKBA leaders are preparing to meet with military leaders, around 300 troops from the military council army have entered two villages close to DKBA headquarters. After that tensions arose around the area and shootings have been taking place since September 14.
