In his opening address at the annual “Karen Unity Seminar,” the Karen National Union’s (KNU) chairperson, General Saw Mutu Sae Po (General Mutu), called on the attendees to work towards what he called “unity in diversity.”
General Mutu welcomed the wide variety of Karen groups attending the event, saying that “We are divided in many ways and this…disunity is not helping our people; instead, our people have suffered—being killed, displaced, and becoming scattered across many different places.”
General Mutu insisted in his speech that unity is critically important in order for Karen to work together: “We have been divided for so long, and it is now important for us to be united. We need unity to free ourselves from oppression, brutal treatment, and to prevent our new generation from suffering what we went through. Unity is a key to achieving this. We have to build unity upon the values of our diversity.”
Now in its 10th year, the objective of this year’s Karen Unity Seminar was to find ways to encourage Karen unity. This year’s seminar is being held from May 28-31 at Law Khee Lar in the KNU’s Hpa-an District in Karen State. The seminar was attended by around 200 representatives from Karen political organizations; youth organizations; women’s organizations; political parties; community-based organizations; and individuals from the region and overseas.
According to Saw Htoo Kli, a director of the Karen Office of Relief and Development (KORD), the focus of year’s Karen Unity Seminar quickly shifted unity to the peace process.
“Most of the representatives brought up topics…relating to the [current] peace process. The hot issue is the ‘peace process’ and people voiced their feelings because the process has a direct impact on their lives.”
Indeed, many representatives questioned the current ideas and approaches of the KNU leadership regarding Burma’s changing political landscape. KORD Director Saw Htoo Kli summed up the community’s lack of consensus on the peace process by saying that “Due to our experiences throughout our history, some [of the leadership] should hold firmly on to our national struggle [ideals]. However, due to the ever-changing political environment, we have to change the dynamic and strategy of our struggle. So, sometimes on the surface this appears like our struggle is moving in different directions.”
Nevertheless, Saw Htoo Kli believes that Karen unity can be achieved by making efforts to understand opposing viewpoints and focusing on the interests of the community.
“Self-interest and ego are some of the factors behind Karen disunity, but these can be overcome if everyone works on basic principles and works in the interest of the people.”
