Statement from Karen Communities Worldwide
For Immediate Release March 9th 2010
Karen Communities Worldwide Call for Action to Stop Attacks on Civilians
Karen communities in 10 countries are joining forces for a global day of action on Tuesday 9th March, calling on the international community to take action to stop new attacks by the Burmese Army against Karen civilians. Since mid January more than 2,000 civilians have been forced to flee new attacks.
• Villagers have been shot on sight
• A school has been mortar bombed
• One villager has been beheaded
• More than 80 homes have been destroyed
• Schools and health clinics have been burned down
• Food stocks being stolen and destroyed
• The regime is stopping aid reaching people who are hiding in the jungle
Karen communities call for immediate practical action to stop the attacks.
• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) must demand an immediate end to the attacks, which break international law
• Governments, including the European Commission, must provide funding for cross-border aid, which is the only way to get food, medicine and shelter to those on the run from the new attacks
• The United Nations (UN) should set up a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the dictatorship.
Karen people have been under attack for more than 60 years. The new wave of attacks is linked to the Burmese dictatorship’ s fake elections due later this year. The dictatorship is trying to crush all resistance forces to their rule. They are following the doctrine of the Burmese Army: ‘One Blood, One Voice, One Command’. The new constitution drafted by the dictatorship guarantees no rights or protection to ethnic nationalities. In fact, it is a death sentence to ethnic diversity in Burma. The international community must stop ignoring what is happening to ethnic peoples in Burma.
We, the Karen Communities Worldwide, desire genuine democracy, peace and national reconciliation, but not military threats and attacks by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) army to destroy our homeland and our dreams for a peaceful federal Burma.
Karen Communities in the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Korea are coordinating the day of action, which is supported by people from Burma and human rights groups.
Contact:
UK – Pa Saw Htee – Karen Community Association +447828168180
Australia - Saw Lwin Oo, Australia Karen Organisation +61 4123 44009
Canada – Mahn Kyaw Shwe, Karen Canadian Community +;1519-434-0139
Germany – Mahn Aung Lwin, Karen National Community Germany +491752433418
Norway – Nan Kyi Aye, Karen community in Norway +4741847953
USA – Stephen Dun, Karen American Communities Foundation +12062958553
Korea – Saw Kenneth Moe, Karen Youth Organisation +821087147019
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
My Speech as KNU Representative in the UK on Global Day of Action in London - By Bwa Bwa Phan
March 9th 2010
Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and supporters, thank you for coming to today’s global day of action. We are not here to criticise the British Government, we are here to ask for their support to our cause. As you all know, Karen civilians are being attacked in eastern Burma by the Burmese Military Junta. This fact is well documented by independent human rights groups. The United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has issued an `expression of concern’ regarding the new attacks on the Karen people. The Karen National Union (KNU) does not believe that this alone is an adequate response.
We need the attacks to stop.
Over the years there have been many `expressions of concerns’ by the General Secretary and Presidential Security council statements. However, none of them have halted the attacks or persuaded the military Junta to enter into genuine dialogue, with the democratic forces in Burma. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma has described the attacks on ethnic peoples in eastern Burma as being a breach of the Geneva Convention, but still the attacks go on.
The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) is the only protection Karen civilians have from the Junta’s attacks. Without the KNLA, no humanitarian aid would be able to reach Internally Displaced People, who are in hiding. Since the regime is blocking aid reaching people who are hiding in the jungle, cross-aid is the only way to provide food, medicine and shelter to those on the run from the new attacks. Unlike the dictatorship, the KNU agree to meet all requirements regarding aid delivery. The KNU would like to make it very clear to the world, we have repeatedly tried to enter into dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the problems in Burma and are ready for any future talks. But the Military Junta demands what amounts to a total and unconditional surrender.
Who will then protect the Karen civilians, the UN?
The UN Special Rapporteur often has to wait for weeks to get a visa just to enter Burma, at times they have not been allowed to talk to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi or the 2100 political prisoners that are held unjustly and in appalling conditions. What hope is there of UN protection for vulnerable Karen civilians in the jungle. The reality is none.
If the attacks by the Junta are to stop we need real pressure by the UN. We need genuine dialogue with all stake holders, for national reconciliation and peace. We have made these facts plain in many letters to the UN and governments but they have gone unheard.
Ladies and gentlemen, that is why we are here today. If our letters go unheard, then our voices should not.
The attacks on Karen civilians in eastern Burma must stop.
Thank you
Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and supporters, thank you for coming to today’s global day of action. We are not here to criticise the British Government, we are here to ask for their support to our cause. As you all know, Karen civilians are being attacked in eastern Burma by the Burmese Military Junta. This fact is well documented by independent human rights groups. The United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has issued an `expression of concern’ regarding the new attacks on the Karen people. The Karen National Union (KNU) does not believe that this alone is an adequate response.
We need the attacks to stop.
Over the years there have been many `expressions of concerns’ by the General Secretary and Presidential Security council statements. However, none of them have halted the attacks or persuaded the military Junta to enter into genuine dialogue, with the democratic forces in Burma. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma has described the attacks on ethnic peoples in eastern Burma as being a breach of the Geneva Convention, but still the attacks go on.
The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) is the only protection Karen civilians have from the Junta’s attacks. Without the KNLA, no humanitarian aid would be able to reach Internally Displaced People, who are in hiding. Since the regime is blocking aid reaching people who are hiding in the jungle, cross-aid is the only way to provide food, medicine and shelter to those on the run from the new attacks. Unlike the dictatorship, the KNU agree to meet all requirements regarding aid delivery. The KNU would like to make it very clear to the world, we have repeatedly tried to enter into dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the problems in Burma and are ready for any future talks. But the Military Junta demands what amounts to a total and unconditional surrender.
Who will then protect the Karen civilians, the UN?
The UN Special Rapporteur often has to wait for weeks to get a visa just to enter Burma, at times they have not been allowed to talk to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi or the 2100 political prisoners that are held unjustly and in appalling conditions. What hope is there of UN protection for vulnerable Karen civilians in the jungle. The reality is none.
If the attacks by the Junta are to stop we need real pressure by the UN. We need genuine dialogue with all stake holders, for national reconciliation and peace. We have made these facts plain in many letters to the UN and governments but they have gone unheard.
Ladies and gentlemen, that is why we are here today. If our letters go unheard, then our voices should not.
The attacks on Karen civilians in eastern Burma must stop.
Thank you
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Attacks on displaced villagers in Nyaunglebin District - KHRG
At least 1,000 villagers have fled from ten villages during the last five days following the establishment of a new SPDC Army camp in central Nyaunglebin District. Two villagers in the area of the camp are confirmed to have been killed by soldiers from this camp. Three other villagers are missing after another SPDC battalion attacked a party of villagers that had escaped from an SPDC relocation site to tend to their farms. Read more
FBR REPORT: UPDATE OF BURMA ARMY ATTACKS, MURDERS, DISPLACEMENT AND FORCED LABOR IN KAREN STATE, BURMA
Dear friends,
This is an update with photos of Burma Army attacks, murders, displacement and forced labor against villagers and IDPs in Karen State, Burma. There are no large scale offensives at this time but over 2,000 people have been displaced in attacks this week while villagers were shot to death by Burma Army patrols. Yesterday while doing a reconnaissance of a Burma Army camp, we saw Burma Army troops with villagers they were forcing to carry loads for them. In every area here that the Burma Army controls, they force villagers to carry loads and work for them. Read more
This is an update with photos of Burma Army attacks, murders, displacement and forced labor against villagers and IDPs in Karen State, Burma. There are no large scale offensives at this time but over 2,000 people have been displaced in attacks this week while villagers were shot to death by Burma Army patrols. Yesterday while doing a reconnaissance of a Burma Army camp, we saw Burma Army troops with villagers they were forcing to carry loads for them. In every area here that the Burma Army controls, they force villagers to carry loads and work for them. Read more
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Displaced and Rangers Celebrate Christmas Together - FBR
Dear all,
Merry Christmas from here in Toungoo District, Northern Karen State, Burma! We are still up here as there is more Burma Army activity against the population. We spent the last three days watching the road while some of the team treated patients and did the Good Life Club Program (GLC). This part of Toungoo district is at the edge of the black zone and the brown zone- we are with the last IDPs before it becomes almost totally Burma Army controlled. Read more
Merry Christmas from here in Toungoo District, Northern Karen State, Burma! We are still up here as there is more Burma Army activity against the population. We spent the last three days watching the road while some of the team treated patients and did the Good Life Club Program (GLC). This part of Toungoo district is at the edge of the black zone and the brown zone- we are with the last IDPs before it becomes almost totally Burma Army controlled. Read more
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