ＫＮＬＡ−ＮＥＷＳ．

by Karen National Union Information Center

　　　　- AUGUST,1997 -

　　　Appeal to Goverments of Democratic Countries and World, 5/AUG.
　　　Pro-Democracy Forces, -from OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS,KAREN NATION UNION. KAW THOO LEI.
　　　Burma is a country co-inhabited by Kayah, Kachin, Karen, Chin, Mon, Burman, Shan, Arakanese, Lahu, Wa, Palaung, Pa-oh and etc. Ethnic nationalities, and the Burma forms the largest majority of the population. All the other ethnic nationalities together form about 60% of the population of Burma. Due to oppression on all sides by successive ruling elites, there has always been constant conflicts between the ethnic nationalities on the one side and the successive ruling elites on the other. Some ethnic nationalities who have returned to the "legal-fold," having to be under the rule of SLORC, have to act in accordance with the will of the SLORC. The statement, dated 17-7-97, supposedly issued by them was a babrication reflecting the wishes of the SLORC, which was nothing but a pack of patent lies and false allegations. The truth is that all the ethnic nationalities have been calling for equality, democracy and unity up to this day, They support the principles of Panglong Agreement which call for the establishment of a federal union. Burma today is a country without a state constitution.
　　　1. As the federal principle is not secession but coalition, unity, equality, democracy and a guarantee for ethnic identity, the Meh-Tha-Raw-Ta Ethnic Nationality Seminar decided that it was to be cherished and adopted it.
　　　2. The KNU has never received assistance either in the form of war weapons or finance. It also has never been controlled by any country, Only the Karen civilians, who have to take refuge in Thailand because of the civil war and serious human rights abuses, are receiving some assistance from international humanitarian NGO. The KNU will always be much grateful and remember the humanitarian organizations for their assistance to the Karen refugees who are in dire plight.
　　　Since the question regarding the Karen people is a political question, the KNU has endeavored for addressing the question by political means, in a peaceful way. However, the effort of the KNU to find a solution by peaceful means has not met with any success, as the SLORC ignored the political means for finding a solution, obtusely demanded for a surrender and then resumed its major military offensive in accordance with the policy of total annihilation through war. Whatsoever the case may be, as the KNU is committed only to durable peace, it will continue to strive for finding means and ways for the resolution of conflicts, politically, through the process of dialogue. Therefor, we would like to earnestly appeal to the democratic goverments and pro-democracy forces of the world to extend assistance for the resolution of the political malaise Burma, through peaceful means and on the basis of mutual recognition and respect.

　　　KNU Press Release Regarding SLORC offensive against KNU, 6/AUG.
　　　The onslaught of SLORC against the Karen civillians living in Thaton, Nyaunglebin, Pa-pun and Taungoo Districts begining from 11,2,97 to 31-7-97 are as follows:
　Killing and Destruction in Thaton district.
* (9) villages totaling (196) houses were burnt and destroyed.
* (882) villagers becames homeless.
* (55) villages consisting of (1926) families with the population of (19649) forced to relocate.
* (11) villagers, so far were killed.
　Killing and Destruction in Pa-pun District.
* (88) villages with (3000) houses were burnt and destroyed.
* (369) rice barns with (60000) baskets of paddy were burnt and destroyed.
* (20,000) civilians became homeless without food.
* (4) churches and (60)schools were burnt down.
* (33) villagers so far, were killed.
　Taungoo District.
* (14) villages with (350) houses were burnt and destroyed.
* (1993) civilians became homeless.
* (50) rice barns with (149) baskets of rice and (580) baskets of paddy were burnt to ashes.
* (57) villages having (2761) houses with the population of (14374) were forced to relocate.
* (14) churches and (14) schools destroyed.
　Nyaunglebin District.
* (67) villages consisting of (669) houses were burnt and destroyed.
* (4679) civilians became homeless.
* (227) families from (3) villages were driven out from their place in Mone Towhship.
* (Detail from Kyauk-kyi and Shwe-gyin are not yet known.)
* (162) rice barns with (7870) baskets of paddy were burnt and destroyed.
* (39) civillinas, so far, were killed.
　The total number of villages that had been burnt and destroyed was (178), in other words, (4218) houses destroyed and many thousands Karen population became homeless.
　　　If the onslaught of SLORC against the population in Pa-an, Kaw-Kereik, Moulmein, Mergui, Tavoy and Boke-pyin were added, this will be enormous.

　　　Battle News of KAREN ARMY(05-31,July), 9/AUG.
　　　There were (2)fighting between with Karen National Liberation Army and SLORC's BURMA government troops in last month. and KNLA troops ambushed Enemy another(2)time, also other(83)times skirmishes broke out too.
　　　We had lost (6) of friendly fighter, and (28)enemy soldiers were killed, also another(87) were wounded.

　　　Statement of the Karen Youth Organizations on Karen National Martyrs'Day(August 12, 1997), 12/AUG.
　　　August the 12th, 1997, marks the 47th anniversary of Karen National Martyrs'Day. Exactly on this day in 1950, our national leaders -Saw Ba-U-Gyi, Saw San-Kay and colleagues - bravely sacrificed their lives while struggling for the liberation of our Karen people.
　　　While on their way to an important meeting, on August 12, 1950, Saw Ba-U-Gyi and his other nine colleagues were surrounded near Hto-Kaw-Koe village and brutally murdered by the enemy. With love for peace and their desire for freedom for their people, they showed their steadfast commitment to free their people from injustice.
　　　They have died, but the principles that they laid down for us will live forever. The struggle will continues until the Karen people are able to decide their own political destiny. Therefore, on this solemn occasion, we Karen Youth Organizations around the world not only pay our highest tributes to their selfless efforts and sacrifice, but unitedly vow to carry on the unfinished struggle for our people till the victory is gained.
　　　Today,we the members of the Karen Youth Organizations around the world salute those who died for the sake of the entire Karen people. At the same time, we urge all the nations of the world to join hands with us by calling/faxing the military regime in Burma or its embassies around the world with the following demands :
* To stop all military offensives against the ethnic nationalities.
* To respect the rights of all the ethnic nationalities.
* To implement everlasting peace and prosperity.
________________________________________________
Karen Youth Organization,(Australia)(Canada)(France)(India)(Japan)(USA) and(KawThooLei)
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