Karen National Union To Decide On Ethnic Alliance Membership At Emergency Meeting In October

Following suspension of its membership with the United Nationalities Federal Council, the ethnic alliance bloc, the Karen National Union have said that they will make a decision on whether to stop or continue their membership with the UNFC.

Earlier reports from the KNU indicated that the issue would be discussed during its Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting scheduled in September, however, the KNU had held its CEC meeting from September 15 to 17 but the UNFC issue was not discussed.

Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, general secretary of the KNU said that the September CEC meeting was a regular KNU’s executive committee members meeting and the issue of UNFC would be discussed and a final decision made in coming KNU’s Central Standing Committee’s (CSC) emergency meeting on October 23.

Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, vice chairperson of the KNU spoke to Karen News and said.

“We could not have the discussion on the UNFC membership issue at the [September] meeting. We could only discuss the KNU’s proposal that was submitted to the UNFC 1st congress.”

The KNU had temporarily suspended its membership with the UNFC in August after disagreement over the alliance’s policies and structure. The KNU had proposed a new structure and policies that, as it claims, would reflect the current political context in Burma.

Naw K’nyaw Paw, general secretary of the Karen Women Organization (KWO) said.

“It is good the KNU will discuss and make a final decision at the Central Standing Committee’s emergency meeting. The meeting will be attended by representatives from various districts and brigades, so there will be a variety of opinions and views. My personally position is that I would like to see the KNU continue its participation with the UNFC.”