KNU Press Release on Recommendation of UN Rapporteur

KNU Press Release on Recommendation of UN Special Rapporteur
14 Mar 2010

The Karen National Union (KNU) warmly welcomes and earnestly supports the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana’s recommendation to the UN for establishing a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity by the Burmese SPDC military government.

We the KNU are fully in agreement with his recommendation, which is firmly based on his findings and the findings of his predecessors. It states the gross and systematic nature of human rights violations and the lack of taking action against the perpetrators, indicating that it is a state policy that involves authorities at all levels, in the executive, military and judiciary.

The KNU and ethnic political organizations including many democratic forces have ong called for such a UN commission, in order to deter the SPDC military government from committing war crimes and crimes against humanity which are unacceptable in the civilized world.

We, the KNU urge the UN member countries, which have been reluctant to support such a recommendation, in consideration of their economic and corporate interest in Burma and in line with their development ideology, to desist from their stand, immoral in the case of Burma, and support Tomás Ojea Quintana’s move.

It is now clearer than ever that the SPDC military regime is forging ahead to perpetuate the rule of military dictatorship through a sham constitution and election to gain a semblance of legitimacy and commit more war crimes and crimes against humanity, contrary to urgings by the international community.

The KNU is a democratic organization committed to human rights and democracy in Burma. We are working towards a Federal Burma where all people live in peace and harmony, under a democratic system of government.

Supreme Headquarters
Karen National Union