KNU ask President Thein Sein for a nationwide ceasefire

The Karen National Union’s peace talk delegation held an informal two-hour closed-door meeting with Burma’s President, U Thein Sein, in the country’s capital, Naypyidaw on Saturday.

The KNU’s general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, told Karen News.

“We raised with him issues about a nationwide ceasefire and he [U Thein Sein] urged the KNU to talk to other ethnic groups for them to make peace and for the KNU talks to be the role model. U Thein Sein is not yet agreeing for our call for a nationwide ceasefire, but agreed the making of peace for the whole country is important.”

The KNU’s, Naw Zipporah Sein, also said she asked the President when the government will stop slandering the Karen political organization and its armed wing the Karen National Liberation Army as been illegal.

“We talked about when will his government stop libelling the KNU as an illegal organization and he responded that he [the government] will work step-by-step until the [peace talks] process improves, but he did not promise when the KNU will be welcomed as an legitimate force in Burma politics.”

The KNU delegation members who met with Burma’s President in Naypyidaw on Saturday, included Naw Zipporah Sein, Saw Htoo Htoo Lay, General Mu Tu Say Poe, Saw Roger Khin, and Saw Ta Doh Moo.