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.

First General Conference of the Karen National League "Perth Declaration"
Perth, Australia, July 15-17, 1999

The First General Conference of the Karen National League was held on 15-17 July, 1999 in Perth, Australia. It brought together more than fifty representatives and observers from KNL member organizations and a number of other Karen organizations. At this conference, the KNL reaffirms its commitment to contribute as an international Karen organization to the struggle of Karen people for ethnic equality, development and democracy.

This conference commends the political leadership of the Karen National Union in steadfastly spearheading the just struggle of Karen people, which has been waged for more than half-a-century. In the meantime, we are conscious of our historical responsibility to battle against the military dictatorship alongside the KNU, and to help increase the capacities of the KNU to creatively lead the people and take timely and appropriate initiatives at various levels.

We are acutely aware that our struggle is in need of educated and dedicated young people who should play an important role in providing efficient leadership within Karen society and effective representation in the international community. The conference thus resolves to increase KNL?s emphasis on educational development projects for Karen society and its activities and involvement internationally.

This conference, noting with concern that the military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), while repeatedly talking about peace, is engaging in wholesale military offensives against the Karen people in general, and the KNU in particular;

Believing that the solution to Burma's ethnic problems can ultimately be found through a process of genuine political dialogues between all parties concerned;

Urges the military regime to halt all the ongoing offensives against ethnic minorities as a genuine gesture of desire for peace and as a first concrete step to remove obstacles to negotiation talks;

Calls upon both the SPDC and the KNU to resume negotiation that will consequently lead to a long term political solution, as soon as possible;

And resolves to advocate the international community, particularly the international and regional bodies such as the United Nations (UN) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help end the atrocities and ethnic conflicts that have been, and still are, going on in Burma.

Released by the KNL Information and Communication Department. For further information, please contact by telephone at 61-29-749 1184 (in Australia), 805-873 8099 (in the U.S.) or by email at: KNLcomm@aol.com

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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