The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) held a public consultation meeting attended by thousands from Thai Ban Mae Surin and Ban Nai Soi refugee camps. The purpose of the meetings was to gather opinions about how the KNPP should move forward with ceasefire negotiations. The Karenni armed group is due to meet with the government’s peace team by month’s end. They have several contentious issues related to actions by both the government and the Burma military they hope can be addressed.
For one, the KNPP want clear demarcation of each other’s controlled territories. Since a ceasefire with the central government in March of last year they have taken part in two union level meetings that resulted in a signed 14 point agreements and another agreement of 8 points inked in June. But the military hasn’t reduced their forces in Karenni state. Instead they going through with the construction of a controversial military school that has been objected by both the KNPP and the affected locals who say it is being built on land that was confiscated when the former military regime was in power.
There are also several large scale projects in the works, namely dams for hydroelectric power that the KNPP and residents want to have to some say in. Despite heavy investment in these projects by foreign companies and the government, state residents fear that little power will be available to them, especially in the rural areas where they are likely to not get any benefit.
“(We) have already signed three times during this initial ceasefire period but we haven’t got an agreement on military issues. So, if the coming meeting doesn’t reach our proposal, we will not sign for this time,” said Khu Oo Reh, vice-chairperson of the KNPP.
“In my own perspective, I think I would agree for the KNPP not to be signing as with previous agreements that resulted in nothing” said Rev. Yarrdoe while acting as a representative for the refugees.
The effective of being part of a nationwide ceasefire scheme that the government has been touting, and hope to carry out sometime this month is in question by KNPP leaders. They may attend the signing ceremony in Burma's capital city Naypyidaw if obligated as a member of the ethnic coalition group the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), but they won’t sign it until their concerns are met, they said.
“We will only focus and prioritize on military affairs this time, and if it turns out nothing we will not sign the agreement. So, if we do not sign this, how will they respond to us? Shooting like before?” said Khu Oo Reh.
The KNPP fought against the government for over 60 years before last year's ceasefire agreement was made.
