The Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN) says the recent ceasefire between the Karenni National Progressive Party’s (KNPP) and government is doing nothing to improve the lives of the people.
Taw Ral Poe, who recently led a KCSN meeting, said the Karenni people “are suffering” and “want real peace and a true ceasefire agreement”. The government is not holding its end of the bargain “therefore nothing has changed”.
The KCSN released a press release detailing the failings of the ceasefire to various media and organizations who attended the meeting.
The KNPP presented a 20-point agreement during a State level meeting with the government last March. On June 9, they also presented a 14-point agreement during a Union level peace discussion in Loikaw. The KCSN say the government has failed to keep their promises from both the meetings.
According the civilian based organization, even though the government agreed to stop fighting, they are still conducting military operations against the KNPP. Secondly, the government went ahead with the construction of a university level military training school despite promising the KNPP that they wouldn’t do it without conducting a survey to determine whether or not locals supported it. Lastly, the government agreed that civil society groups could monitor large development projects in the state. However, when the Ywa Thit Dam project started KCSN weren’t even allowed on the project site.
Karenni people are still forced to seek refuge because of the ongoing fighting. They are still being displaced by government run developmental projects.
The KCSN said the government needs to take responsibility for the growing number of refugees. They need to find a real solution that will help displaced Karenni people. And the government needs to honor their agreement with the KNPP.
At the closing of the meeting, KCSN leaders release a statement demanding the Myanmar military must stop all offences against ethnic armed groups and civilians in the country and hold a national political meeting.
KCSN is a civilian based organization observing the ceasefire agreement between the government and KNPP. The organization that started in June, 2009, is made up of nine Karenni social organizations, based on the Thai-Karenni border.
