Major Saw Mote Thon from the Border Guard Forces (BGF) Battalion 1022 in the Karen (Kayin) State said better understanding is necessary among the divided Karen armed groups.
He said this in the Karen language to KIC News during a ceremony marking their 8th anniversary on August 21.
“There are many ethnic armed organizations of the Pwo and S’gaw Karen tribes in the Karen State. Although there are many [armed organizations], they are all Karen people. They are wearing uniform and taking arms for their own country and people. Amity and understanding is necessary between each other. If they shoot each other, a dead Pwo Karen is a dead Karen and a dead S’gaw Karen is also a dead Karen. That’s why there would be more deaths and losses if there is lack of understanding among our people,” Major Saw Mote Thon said in the Karen language.
He continued that the Karen people are still retaining their arms in line with one of the policies set down by Saw Ba U Gyi and they should find solutions for not only unity and solidarity but also against oppression rather than blaming each other.
Currently, there are three Karen armed organizations that split from the KNU, namely the Karen Democratic Benevolent Army, the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), and the BGF, which is under the Tatmadaw. These three armed organizations are still unable to unite due to different positions, policies, and views and they are still at the stage of building unity.
The ceremony marking the 8th anniversary was held at Me Ka Nei Village in Myawaddy Township, Karen State. Although senior officers and comrades from the DKBA and the KNU/KNLA-PC, representatives of political parties, government officials, Tatmadaw officials, officials from Tak Province, Thailand, and the public attended the ceremony, officials from the KNU were unable to attend it.
The Karen State’s BGF was established with 12 battalions from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and a battalion from the Karen Peace Forces (KPF) in August 2010 and its currently has over 3,000 troops.
The Karen State’s BGF celebrated their anniversary together at their headquarters in Shwe Kote Ko Myaing Village in the previous years, but it was only celebrated at the BGF Battalion 1022’s headquarters this year.
