The International Karen Organization (IKO) released a statement on March 9 to express its frustration at the Karen National Union (KNU) Central’s position on the recent clashes between the Tatmadaw and the KNU, which caused thousands of villagers to flee in Mu Traw (Hpapun) District during the first week of March.
The IKO’s spokesperson Mahn Orlando said the KNU has been actively involved in the peace process but the Karen people have been frustrated at the organization for keeping its silence on the clashes.
According to him, the recent clash was a territorial invasion which underestimated the KNU and insulted the Karen people while showing the desire to disturb peace.
“Only the [KNU] Brigade 5 has submitted a letter of objection to the JMC over this issue. We feel frustrated at the [KNU] Central for not giving any responses, which will satisfy the Karen people,” Mahn Orlando told KIC News on March 12, adding that the KNU should issue a statement on how many local residents have been displaced by the clashes and what kind of assistance they are in need.
The IKO has denounced the Tatmadaw for forcibly building roads inside the KNU restricted area and accused the Tatmadaw of being an aggressor by occupying the area and showing its unwillingness toward genuine peace.
The KNU Brigade 5 has submitted a letter of objection to the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) on March 8 to have the Tatmadaw withdraw its troops since the construction of the road between Khay Pu and Ler Mu Plaw in Lu Thaw Township of Mu Traw District is only intended for military warfare and this act not only violates paragraph 8 of chapter 2 and paragraph (a) of section 3 of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) and harms the peace process.
In a statement released on March 9, the Karen Peace Support Network (KSPN) stated that nearly 2,000 local residents have been forced to flee from Ler Mu Plaw and Kay Bu village-tracts under Lu Thaw Township due to the conflict.
According to the KSPN, the fleeing residents are in need of food and medical assistance and the Tatmadaw soldiers have been killing the local resident’s domestic animals.
The KNU’s secretary Padoh Saw Tar Doh Moo said: “This issue must be resolved based on the NCA. We need to negotiate on how this road construction issue is covered in the JMC’s code of conduct and whether it is covered in the points that should be avoided [by the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed organizations]. We will resolve all necessary [issues]. Either the JMC or the lower-level troops may meet based on the NCA, but we are waiting for the meeting between us. We can only talk about it after this meeting is held.”
Although the government and the KNU signed the NCA on October 15, 2015, the Tatmadaw and the KNU Brigade 5 has clashed four times from January to February in 2018 and five times from March 5 to 7 over the territorial dispute, according to the KNU Brigade 5.
The IKO was established by Karen social organizations from over 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America in September 2014.
