KNU says military council is enemy of federalism and democracy

Mawlamyine, October (16)

The KNU retorted that the military leader’s claim that he would reform the constitution to address ethnic issues was merely lip service and that the military council was the enemy of federalism and democracy.

On the 7^th anniversary of the signing of the Nationwid Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on October 15, junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing asserted that the military council and the ethnic groups will work together to protect the democratic system.

The military leader said that some points in the constitution will be amended so that the ethnic armed organizations can move towards peace.

The KNU spokesperson, Pado Saw Taw Ni responded to the military leader’s remarks by saying, “He himself seized power and violated all the agreements. The military council is now the enemy of both federalism and democracy. He is an illegitimate leader himself. There is no reason to collaborate with an illegal group as we have frequently expressed. Around 500–600 conflicts have taken place in our region. How can we move forward democratically?”

“The Karen National Union (KNU) has been actively involved in the peace process since the signing of the NCA in 2015, but the military has suppressed it. The military council has violated all agreements and continuously targeted the public after the coup,” Pado Saw Taw Ni added.

“After destroying the 2008 constitution and taking power, the military leader’s statement that the constitution will be revised is unacceptable,” he said.

Pado Saw Taw Ni said that the KNU is working hard to overthrow the military council during this period, and believes that the public will also participate as much as possible.

There are 300,000 to 400,000 people who are fleeing the conflict in the KNU-controlled area, and the number of IDPs nationwide is up to millions.  He said that the council must be responsible for the suffering of the people fleeing the war.

Political analysts criticized the military leader’s statement that he would amend the constitution for the ethnic groups, which is only an incentive campaign for his military group to retain power.

News – Than Lwin Times