The other side of the story: KNU and UNFC can still “make it up” with each other

A leader of a top member organization of the 12 party alliance United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) said yesterday the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) will serve as a meeting point for the recently estranged Karen National Union (KNU) and the Alliance.

Gen N Ban La

“I’m sure we will be able to sort out our differences and make it up there,” he told SHAN.

The NCCT is made up of 12 UNFC members and 4 non-UNFC members. The KNU, the co-founder of the alliance, announced suspension of its membership to the UNFC on 31 August, following disagreement on the alliance structure.

It had proposed what it terms a “quasi-federal” structure to replace what it calls the “top down” structure leading to the “One blood, One Voice, One Command” system it had fought against since 1949. “Only the Karen people (and not others) can determine their own destiny,” it had declared referring to one of the 4 point guideline laid down by the much revered late leader Saw Ba Oo Gyi.

It had also complained that a highly prominent UNFC leader had intimated on 31 August that the KNU could be an agent provocateur sent by the government to infiltrate and destroy its unity.

“That wasn’t what was actually said,” objected the said UNFC leader. “What he was saying was Naypyitaw had long adopted the policy of using political parties to fight against political parties, media against media and ethnic armed movements against ethnic armed movements. The KNU leaders must have misinterpreted what he said.”

On the question of the UNFC structure, he explained that UNFC leaders had proposed that a constitution amendment committee was formed.

“The constitution approved by the First Congress (held 25 August-2 September) isn’t carved in stone,” he said. “It is open to amendment.”

The NCCT is to meet again on Monday, 8 September, to finalize its preparations for the next meeting with the government formed Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC), which has been propsed for 22-24 September.

A second tripartite (UPWC-NCCT-Political Parties) meeting has also been tentatively fixed for 25 September.

The first one was held on 18 August following the 3-day discussion on the 3rd draft of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

The UNFC source says he is confident the NCA will be signed soon “if everything works out as expected.”

The 12 person newly elected line-up of the UNFC:

Chairman Gen N’ Ban La (KIO)

Vice Chairman # 1 Nai Hong Sa (NMSP)

Vice chairman # 2 (reserved for KNU nominee)

General Secretary Khu Oo Reh (KNPP)

Joint Secretary # 1 Hkhun Okker (PNLO)

Joint Secretary # 2 Salai Thla Hei(CNF)

Member Dr La Ja (KIO)

Member (reserved for KNU)

Member Col Sai Du (SSPP)

Member Dr Khin Maung (ANC)

Member Bawmwang Laraw (KIO)

Member Gen Bee Htoo (KNPP)

The KNU is to hold an adhoc meeting in October to reconsider its UNFC membership.