12th AKO National Biennial General Meeting statement

30 September 2024, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Karen Organisation Inc (AKO) held its 12th National Biennial General Meeting on 27 to 29 September 2024. Representatives of its five Branches were in attendance.

Further to the Biennial Election and arising discussions, the following resolutions were made unanimously:

1. To reaffirm and uphold the Karen Four Slogans of peaceful demand and Saw Ba U Gyi’s Four Principles until the Karen national and political objectives are achieved.
2. To support the Karen Revolution by all political and moral means, with the accomplishment of the Karen National objectives of equality and genuine Federal Union with self-determination.
3. To urge for the current leadership of the Karen National Union (KNU) to revert to adhering to and upholding the true aims and objectives of the KNU which were based on Saw Ba U Gyi’s Four Principles upon its formation.
4. To call on the Australian Government and International Community to address the dire humanitarian crisis and unprecedented displacement of Karen and other ethnic minority refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, through increased funding and provision of aid for their basic needs for food, shelter, security, and medical treatment through Trusted Partners.
5. To urge the United Nations Security Council to take up actions against the leaders of Myanmar Military by referring the matter to the International Criminal Court and to adopt the Fact-Finding Mission’s recommendations of targeted sanctions against the Military junta, travel bans, and the imposition of a comprehensive global arms embargo on the junta.
6. To deplore the forthcoming Nationwide Census to be conducted in October 2024, premised on the junta’s systematic oppression of Karen and Myanmar diaspora.
7. To strongly condemn the outcome of future sham elections which result in the illegitimate government of Myanmar which opposes the stance of the National Unity Government of Myanmar – with a view to providing opportunities to actively participate in the political dialogue and by way of strategic navigation to Karen national autonomy.

Central Committee
Australian Karen Organisation Inc.