Anniversary of Karen People Martyrs’ Day

OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS

KAREN NATIONAL UNION

KAWTHOOLEI

www.karennationalunion.net

Message of KNU President, Gen. Mutu Say Po, on Occasion of 63

rd

 Anniversary of Karen People Martyrs’ Day

August 12, 2013

Dear Karen Nationals,

Patriotic Comrades in Resistance,

Today is the 63

Martyrs’ Day, for commemorating  President Saw Ba U Gyi, together with other Karen leaders, comrades and Karen

civilians, who have sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Karen people. At the same time as being a sad day for

the whole Karen nation, it inspires a sense of pride within the Karen community for the emergence of such patriotic

martyrs. On this occasion of the Martyrs’ Day, I wish all the Karen nationals, with a tie to the martyrs, to be health

physically and spiritually, and be able to take pride joyfully in the sacrifice of lives by your loved ones and the

emergence of martyrs for the nation.

In the 63 years of armed resistance, the sacrifice of lives by countless martyrs is for the Karen people to be

liberated from oppression and to lead a life of dynamic progress, peace and prosperity. The sacrifice of lives by our

martyrs has made the Karen people to be able to exist as a nation, and the Karen people’s resistance movement to

continue to exist and be active, up to this day.

The sacrifice of lives by our national martyrs means that the martyrs have fully discharged their national duty.

However, their sacrifice has not yet fulfilled their hopes. The duty of fulfilling the hopes of the martyrs and giving

meaning to their sacrifice of lives falls into the hands of us, who are still alive. 

Dear Karen Nationals,

Patriotic Comrades in Resistance,

Today, the leadership of our organization and our nation’s future political movement is faced with a challenge.

It is necessary to study the features of this challenge in depth, lay down a political program in consonant with the

situation and face it with boldness and unity. At the same time, it is necessary to review, amend and adjust the

leadership of our organization, unity within the organization, the performance of duty by individuals within the

organization and perform for achieving the real needs of our people, in accordance with the objective conditions, to the

highest degree.

Dear Karen Nationals,

Patriotic Comrades in Resistance,

The political stand of the KNU is that, as movement of the Karen people is political, it must be resolved

politically. The aim of establishment of armed organizations by the KNU is not to fight the enemy for victory and seize

the State power. The aim is to protect the organization and the people, to be able to resolve the political problems

rd

 Anniversary of Karen people Martyrs’ Day. This date has been designated as Karen people

harmoniously, to achieve equality and self-determination for the Karen people and all the other ethnic nationalities, to

establish a federal union based on democracy. As the KNU accepts the resolution of Karen political problem through

political dialogue and negotiation as the most correct way, whenever the condition allows, the KNU has to establish

peace with the regimes in power and resolve the Karen political problem politically through dialogue.   

After accession to power, U Thein Sein, leading the government, made overture for peace building in the

country and held ceasefire negotiation with the ethnic nationality resistance organizations. As the overture was made,

the KNU accepted the dialogue, agreed to preliminary ceasefire and it is to hold political negotiation. To make the

ceasefire durable, to be able to build peace in the country and to cease armed conflict, the KNU has drawn up a Code of

Conduct for the armed organizations to follow and submitted it. After getting full guarantee for ceasefire from the armed

organizations in the whole country, the political problems causing armed conflict have to be resolved. At the same time,

for building internal peace and resolving the political problems that have caused armed conflict in the country, the KNU

has to discuss and work with other ethnic nationalities for the right to equality. The ethnic nationalities got together and

laid down a framework for political dialogue. The program for political dialogue, laid down by the ethnic nationalities, has

to be discussed and fine-tuned with the government. The government did mention about acceptance of the demand

made by the ethnic nationalities for resolving the political problems.      

Dear Karen Nationals,

Patriotic Comrades in Resistance,

The meeting now is the first step for political dialogue for resolving political problems through dialogue

demanded by us.  In moving and performing politically, knowledge, attention and diligence are especially necessary.

During the time of armed conflict, due to different reasons, though the Karen people wanted to participate and

cooperate, they did not have the permission to do so. However, it is a situation for the entire Karen people to participate

and work in cooperating and working politically. Now is the time and situation for the Karen people to participate and

cooperate with unity and boldly express aspirations of the Karen people. Being a people, the Karens want to live in

dignity like the developed peoples. They are a free people and have the rights to self-defense and self-development. No

one can infringe these rights. However, we have not received out rights to freedom fully and officially, up to this day. For

full guarantee, the rights of the ethnic nationalities should be written precisely, in the Constitution. Up to now, the

government does not have clear and tangible programs to address the problem of the ethnic nationalities and to

establish a fully democratic State. For that reason, the KNU leaders, all the KNU members and the entire Karen people

are required to express, with unity, aspirations of the Karen people and work to with vigor to achieve the goal for which

the martyrs have sacrificed their lives. In our future effort, it is necessary for us to work with Karen organizations in other

countries, organizations of other ethnic nationalities and the democratic forces concertedly, correctly and systematically

and with mutual understanding and support, in all sectors.

Dear Karen Nationals,

Patriotic Comrades in Resistance,

Today is the day we commemorate our national martyrs. With the solemn honoring, it is vitally important for

us to make a pledge to work like the martyrs while they were alive, for achievement of their aims and fulfillment of

their hopes.  May the spirit of the martyrs be in the hearts of us, who are still alive, and may we be able to fulfill the

aspirations of our people to live as a free people and to eternally progress and strong is my wish with love. 

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