Interview : DKBA COLONEL BREAKS SILENCE Interview DKBA COLONEL BREAKS SILENCE Maxmilian Wechsler Since the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) was established in December 1994, it has been consistently accused by the Karen National Union (KNU) and other organizations of committing offenses against the Karen people and being involved in drug trafficking and other crimes. The DKBA was formed after the defection by Buddhist commanders from the Christian-dominated KNU due to religious disputes, especially the row over the building of Myit Zone Zedi Buddhist pagoda near the KNU's headquarters at Manaplaw. One of the top DKBA commanders, 52-year-old Colonel Na Kam Mui, who defected from the KNU in 1995, agreed to an interview which might be the first-ever by an officer of this group: Under what circumstances was the DKBA established? The DKBA was formed as a result of injustices that had occurred to our people. We began to realize in 1994 that we did not even have the right to our own religious beliefs. We asked the KNU leadership to provide justice for our people whenever their freedom was abused, but there was no response. What are the aims of your organization? To protect our Karen people from oppression and to uphold their rights, so that they can live freely in their motherland. We will fight anyone who tends to disturb their way of life. It is our duty to look after their security. We will punish severely and without delay anyone, even our own officials. What are the present activities of your group? We build roads, bridges, schools, dams, houses, as well as help farmers. We also make sure that everyone in our motherland is guaranteed religious freedom. We are trying to improve the living conditions of our people. Give some details of the DKBA's policies, membership, etc. Anyone can join the DKBA, whether they have a military background or civilian. But they must pledge to follow our rules, work hard and support freedom of religious beliefs. They must not be involved in any activities that could harm civilians. How is the DKBA financed? We do trading between Thailand and Burma, and receive income from the natural resources of our country. Do the Karen people support the DKBA? If we do good things for our people, they will surely support us. We must serve them and not act like their bosses while doing nothing for them. You should come to interview the people yourself and hear what they say about us. I can't speak for them. Let the people decide what kind of leadership they want. What is the present relationship between the DKBA and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)? We support peace and the development of our country based on mutual respect. We support the government to bring peace and stability to our people. Does the DKBA communicate with the KNU? If yes, give details. We are all Karen living together in the motherland. Therefore, we can't avoid communicating with each other. Every time we meet, we discuss how to keep peace. Instead of fighting, causing confusion and misunderstandings, we should live and work together. Moreover, we must not harm innocent lives. We believe in the unity of our people, so that we can live in harmony and peace. Without peace, we can't develop our country. Would it be possible for you and the KNU to join and work together? The KNU should unite all Karen people, but under the current administration there's no justice or even sincerity to protect the interests of the people. If they did so, we would not have had to move out! The current top KNU leadership misrepresents the people and looks only after its own interests and glory, instead of helping people. I really regret this very much. The KNU has accused the DKBA of being involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities. Is this true? This is not true. The DKBA have rules that prohibit the drinking of alcohol or the use of addictive drugs, because both harm our people. We are very strict about this! We do not want to see the Karen people suffer because of drugs. Yes, there are some people in our ranks who are not following the rules, but we do our utmost to punish them according to our laws. We don't want to see our people being destroyed. There are rumors that the SPDC is pressuring the DKBA to give up weapons. How would you react to such a request? In reality, we don't want to carry guns, but we have no choice. We need the guns to maintain peace for our people. The weapons we possess aren’t meant to attack anyone. There is no way for the SPDC to take the guns from our hands. If they pressure us and attempt to disarm us then we will have no choice but to stand up and fight to the end. The weapons we have are for peaceful purposes and not to fight with the SPDC. What is the future for the DKBA? We wish to keep our freedom and to develop our own state. Not only human beings, but also the animals in the jungle must be well protected. We want to see equal rights for all religions that will allow our people to live in a secure environment without fear. We want to see everyone in our own land to be free. This applies not just for to Karen State but for everyone in our country. Lots of people, including many in the opposition, regard the DKBA as a criminal organization. Do you have any explanation for this? The world today is full of propaganda and accusations. People without access to the media can't defend themselves. Some corrupted Thai officers are involved in the drug business but make us as the scapegoat, so that they can be promoted. (The translation of the interview from the Karen language into English was made By Mrs. Wann Sochiarun). WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THE DKBA David Tharckabaw, Joint General Secretary of the KNU: There are many factions in the DKBA. Just like the cease-fire groups, they have been manipulated by the SPDC. Most have become corrupt by the drug business and privileges given to them by the SPDC. So, some want to remain stooges of the junta and do as much business as possible. Some realize that there will be no political solution with the SPDC and want to rejoin the Karen resistance. So the situation remains fluid. One former KNU member is currently trying to win them back with a strategy of his own. It will be interesting to wait and see (what happens) before the end of this year. U Aye Saung, Secretary of Military Committee, Democratic Alliance of Burma: The DKBA is a religious-based group that has split from the KNU and helped the Burmese government to seize their headquarters at Manaplaw in 1994. They named themselves afterwards as the "DKBA." The group is a lackey of the Burmese who have honored them by giving them permission to do business and to collect taxes. The SPDC is now trying to limit their activities and control them. One example: about three months ago the SPDC confiscated around 300 unlicensed vehicles and closed some of their checkpoints. It will be very hard for the Christian-dominated KNU to forget all the losses that the DKBA inflicted upon them. Differences between two KNU factions, one for and the other against the cease-fire, have also become obvious. The pro-group expects the DKBA to become their partner. How can this be, as they are themselves not free to act? The future of their people looks vague. Just like other cease- fire groups, the DKBA is manipulated by the SPDC. They have become corrupt by the drug business. The search for "greener pastures" will lead the opportunist Karen leaders to a tragic end. But I don't think that the spirit of their people, who have been revolutionary for over 50 years, will be easily extinguished. U Thein Oo, Member of Parliament, National League for Democracy: The DKBA and the KNU should meet openly, put their past differences behind them, reconcile and unite for the benefit of the Karen people and Burma. Both groups should realize that while being apart for so many years and fighting each other they have created additional hardships for their people. Their separation also plays into the hands of the SPDC, who wants them weak and in disarray in order to control them easily, and when the time comes to defeat them as well. The DKBA and the KNU should say: "Enough is enough, let's join and work together." And they should do it as soon as possible, preferably before the National Convention reconvenes, because this will give them a status that the Burmese government will have to reckon with. ~