KNU leaves UNFC to it: One side of the story

As the famous saying goes: “There are three sides to a story: Your side, my side and the truth,” the following is the Karen National Union (KNU) leadership’s version given on 1 September 2014 on the disaster that befell the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), which could very well alter the leverage that it has been enjoying in the peace process.

UNFC Conference UNFC Media

On 25 September, the first day of the UNFC congress, the KNU had presented a paper proposing that the 12 member organization alliance abandon its adoption of the “top-down” structure to a more mobile structure that “respects the sovereignty” of each member.

“The matter, however, failed to come up as a topic for discussion at the congress,” one of the KNU representatives recounted. “The organizers later requested each member of its organization submit representatives to the Congress for the elections of the new leadership. We told the Congress we would not be able to do that because our proposal had not been considered let alone adopted by it.”

The result was the adhoc summit meeting on Sunday, 31 August, that was held to discuss on the KNU’s presentation. “It (proposed structure) designed on the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) model, with some alterations to suit our conditions, “a KNU representative explained,” which means by adopting it each member organization will be able to participate in common issues while working in issues which though different are not detrimental to fellow member organizations.”

A few representatives had reportedly spoken in favor of it, but the majority were against it. “One very prominent leader said that for some time he had received information that enemy agents have infiltrated to destroy the UNFC,” said a representative. “That was the last straw. Although he had not pointed his fingers at us, there wasn’t any need, because rumors have been afloat long before he spoke of it.”

The KNU peace talks delegation led by chairman Mutu Say Poe has met President Thein Sein 6 times and armed forces chief Min Aung Hlaing 5 times. Except for the first meeting with the President, no official statements have been released.

Gossips that inevitably came out and taken as gospels by some include Gen Mutu has agreed to accept an offer for a Vice President position in the post 2015 elections government to be headed by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

A manual for negotiators has pointed out: The day there is no secret negotiations is the day there is no negotiations.

This writer meanwhile has maintained that taking all tenets to the extreme is never advisable. “The need for confidentiality and the need for transparency must always be balanced,” he counseled the politicians visiting Chiangmai on 7 July.

So what follows?

The KNU’s reply is that a Central Executive Committee will be called as soon as possible to consider whether or not it will return to being an active member of the UNFC.

The group, one of the strongest resistance movements and also one of those most vulnerable to internal divisions, issued a press release that in the meanwhile it will continue to be active in the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) formed on 2 November 2013 with UNFC and non-UNFC groups in Laiza to negotiate with the government.

The UNFC members of the NCCT are:

Arakan National Council (ANC)
Chin National Front (CNF)
Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)
Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)
Karen National Union (KNU)
Lahu Democratic Union (LDU)
Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)
New Mon State Party (NMSP)
PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO)
Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF)
Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)
Wa National Organization (WNO)
Others are:

Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)
Arakan Army (AA)
Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA)
Karen Peace Council (KPC)
KNU proposed UNFC structure

*KNU Structure*

[All inclusive grouping
(Council)
Once annually]
****************

[Political Leading Committee
7 Members (Chair on rotation)]
****************

[Secretariat]
***************
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