KNU open to Thai brokered talks but don’t expect instant results
Posted on March 25, 2009
Filed Under Burma news, Karen news | Comments Off
The Karen National Union (KNU) has reportedly said it welcomes an offer from Thailand to mediate talks between it and the Burmese junta.
However, the Bangkok Post quotes KNU vice-president David Takapaw as saying the success of the talks would depend on how sincere the junta was in restoring democracy.
On Monday, after meeting with senior Burmese leaders in Burma, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the Burmese had asked for Thailand’s help to negotiate with ethnic separatist groups (see: Thailand to help Burma talk to ethnic minorities).
Meanwhile, The Irrawaddy quoted Takapaw as saying any talks would have to be held outside Burma. “We are always ready for peace talks,” he said.
“But we will not attend any talks in Burma at this time. Talks must be held in another country.”
In the past, talks between the KNU and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as Burma’s junta is formally known have resulted in an informal ceasefire.
However, this truce which was described by Karen leaders as a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ did not lead to a formal peace treaty between the two sides and was repeatedly broken by the SPDC.
Furthermore, with the junta preparing for elections in 2010, the SPDC has launched a large scale offensive in Karen State, that have led to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the KNU’s armed wing being reduced to a few strongholds along the Thai-Burma border.
The elections next year are to be held under a new junta backed constitution that was drafted without input from ethnic groups or the opposition National League for Democracy.
It has been widely discredited by the international community, who see the elections as an attempt to formalise the military’s grip on power.
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