............The second Karen National Union(KNU) congress was held at Maw Ko, Nyauglebin district in June and July 1956, and attended by KNU representatives from Delta Division, Pegu Yoma Division and Eastern Division. In this congress the political aims of the KNU were laid down as follows, and they still apply today:
- The establishment of a Karen State with the right to self-determination.
- The establishment of National States for all the nationalities, with the right to self-determination
- The establishment of a genuine Federal Union with all the states having equal rights and the right to self-determination.
- The Karen National Union will pursue the policy of National Democracy.
In spite of the internal and external situations, we continue to maintain our own state, Kawthoolei, administered by our won Kawthoolei Government since 1950, under the banner of the Karen National Union(KNU), and the well trained and disciplined Karen National Liberation Army, which were formed in the same year. We desire Kawthoolei to be a Karen State with the right to self-determination. We are therefore endeavouring to form a genuine Federal Union comprised of all the states of the nationalities in Burma, including a Burman state, on the basis of Liberty, Equality, Self-Determination and Social Progress.
We desire the extent of Kawthoolei to be the areas where the Karens are in majority. It shall be governed in accordance with the wishes of the people of the State and just in the eyes of the country and the world. The policy of the Karen National Union is National Democracy. It fully recognises and encourges privite ownership and welcomes foreign investment. All the people of Kawthoolei shall be given democratic rights, politically, economically, socially and culturally. Freedom and quality of all religions is guaranteed. Kawthoolei will maintail cordial relationships with alll other states and other countries on the basis of mutual respect, peace and prosperity. Kawthoolei will never permit the growing or refining of opium or the sales and transport of illicit drugs through its territory.