Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, vice chairperson of the KNU spoke to Karen News about the meeting.

She said: “There will be presentations and discussions on the draft Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and the deed of commitment [signed earlier]. There will also be discussions on the upcoming ethnic leaders’ summit that the UWSA [United Wa State Army] has offered to host. Representatives to attend the summit will be chosen.”

Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein said that previous decisions by the KNU Central Standing Committee on the unity of Karen armed groups will be reviewed at this meeting to see how many of the decisions have been implemented.

Saw Eh Wah, Chairperson of the KNU’s Taungoo District and a member of the central standing committee spoke to Karen News about the meeting.

He said: “I want the peace process that we are implementing to be transparent and to move forward with everyone’s agreement. From this meeting, I am expecting discussions that will be based on the benefits for the people. We need to discuss the issue of NCA thoroughly. We don’t want the NCA to become something that restricts us.”

The KNU central standing committee emergency meeting was called in response to the draft nationwide ceasefire agreement reached between the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) – representing ethnic armed groups and the Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC) – representing the Government on 31 March.

The issue of KNU signing the Deed of Commitment with the Burma Government at Naypyidaw on 12 February, together with the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, KNU/KNLA – Peace Council and the Restoration Council of Shan State, will be also discussed at the KNU emergency meeting.

The KNU meeting is the fourth Central Standing Committee emergency meeting since the 15th Congress. The KNU’s Central Standing Committee meeting is only called when important issues need to be resolved.

Sources from the KNU said that a meeting with community-based-organizations will follow after the three-day Central Standing Committee emergency meeting and the KNU will release a public statement on the last day of the meeting.

The emergency Central Standing Committee meeting will be attended by all the top KNU leaders including General Mutu Sae Po, Chairperson, Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, Vice Chairperson, Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, general secretary, Padoh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe, joint secretary 1, Padoh Mahn Mahn, joint secretary 2, General Saw Johnny, Chief-of-Staff of the Karen National Liberation Army, Lieutenant General Saw Baw Kyaw Heh , Vice Chief-of-staff of KNLA and another 39 Central Standing Committee members.