The Karen National League, as a non-armed Karen organization, seeks to uplift the lot of the Karen people and bring about the rule of law and true democracy to Burma. It engages in any and all lawful activities incidental to the foregoing purposes.

No. PA2/99 for immediate release: RE: Concerning the term "separatist"
22 March 1999

In a very recent report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the death of 10 immigration officers, the Karen National Union (KNU) was depicted as a "separatist" organization. We must adamantly declare that this term "separatist" is quite wrong. The KNU has resisted the central Burmese government which has now evolved into the ruthless and unconscionable State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) regime for more than 50 years. Throughout this time, the intent has always been for an autonomous state within the federation, and not at all for a completely separate state or country, and this was repeatedly affirmed by the KNU President Bo Mya. We, the Karen National League (KNL) therefore feel strongly the necessity of this clarification.

Department of Political Affairs Karen National League (KNL)

Released by: Communication and Information Division P.O Box 320 518 San Francisco, CA 94132 U.S.A. Email: KNLcomm@aol.com

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