The trip to 7th Karen Unity Seminar -May (17-21)2010

          The Karen Unity Seminar was held from 17-21 May 2010 at Karen revolution area of Eastern Burma. The representatives included 37 Karen organisations from the local area and that of overseas; which was a total of 103 participants whom attended (including observers). During the day just after the seminar, phone interviews had been conducted to me by VOA, BBC, RFA and DVB about the 7th Karen Unity Seminar. 

          The current political situation of Burma in Karen context was the key theme discussed throughout the seminar. However the approaches of strengthening Karen unity; and producing young Karen leaders from today’s generation were seen as ideal resolutions for the Karen national struggle for self determination.

          The Karen Unity Seminar Statement was issued at the conclusion of the seminar and addressed the following outcomes of decisions made and the demands that were raised. This included: The Karen unity being wholly based on the Karen national  objectives, such as equality, self determination, democracy and human rights, and towards building a genuine future federal union of Burma;

• The young Karen generation to increase their self motivation, alertness, and commitment to carry on the Karen national duty;
• The Karen Unity Seminar unanimously agreed to boycott the SPDC’s 2010 election which is believed to be of no benefit for ethnic nationalities and the entire people of Burma, as this unfair and undemocratic election will only prolong the military rule;
• The Karen Unity Seminar calls to establish the UN commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma;

• To cease all Burmese army’s attack against Karen civilians in eastern Burma and all others ethnic areas;

• To provide cross-border assistance to Karen internally displaced people (IDPs) who were fleeing from Burmese army’ attacks;

• To provide all necessary assistance to the refugees who are living along Thai-Burma border refugee camps till they could go back when the genuine peace and human protection were restored in Burma;

• And to pressure Burmese military regime to engage UN mandated the tripartite dialogue resolution including Military, NLD and all political parties and ethnic leaders.

          The seminar also issued an open letter to the DKBA and KNU/KNLA Peace Council regarding the request for the Karen unity and thus the reunion with KNU for the sake of Karen national cause.
          The participants of the Karen unity seminar raised a total of 49 points of what they believed was essential for the seminar and in general, what was needed for the Karen people. The decisions and further action plans in regards to the political, moral and financial support for the Karen national struggle were also made.

The representatives of the overseas Karen Organisations included;

1.      Australian Karen Organisation                                 = 5

2.      KNU Rep.-Australia                                                  = 1

3.      Karen Youth Organisation –Korea                          = 1

4.      Karen National League –Japan                                 = 3

5.      Karen Community Association, KNU Rep             = 1

6.      Karen Community Minnesota, KNU Rep               = 1

7.      New Zealand Karen Community                              = 1

       Thank you to all AKO’s members who prepared the AKO’s statement for this seminar and all assistance in both financial and moral sense for the trip.

With unity to our victory.

Yours sincerely,
Saw Lwin Oo
National President-AKO Inc.