Karen National Union (KNU) and Myanmar President U Thein Sein Meeting 07 Apr 2012_english

Karen National Union (KNU) and Myanmar President U Thein Sein Meeting

07 Apr 2012

 

1. Seven leaders from the Karen National Union (KNU) delegation, led by General Secretary Naw Zipporah Sein, met with the President of Union of Myanmar, U Thein Sein, at 7 am on April 7, 2012 in Nay Pyi Daw. After holding an informal discussion, the delegation arrived back in Yangon around noon by a special flight.

2. During the meeting, President U Thein Sein explained the Government’s efforts for peace process, development, and democratization.

3. The KNU leaders reaffirmed their relentless commitment for a nation-wide ceasefire and for progressive realization of peace and reform.

4. President U Thein Sein also told KNU that the Government is making its best efforts to remove KNU from its list of outlawed organizations as soon as possible.

5. Today’s meeting with the President was arranged by Union Ministers U Aung Min, U Soe Thein, and U Khin Yee. The Government’s intermediaries on the peace process (U Hla Maung Shwe, U Kyaw Yin Hlaing and U Ngwe Soe) also attended the meeting.

Contact: Saw Dah Doh Moo (95-9 419 81239)
Naw May-Oo Mutraw (95-9 857 5142)

Press Release on Negotiation Meeting Between KNU and the Government-Karen- Burmese April 7 2012

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KNU and Burmese government agree on 13 commo decision

 

KNU Peace Talk 06.04.2012 Evening view

 Peace Talk 06.04.2012 Morning view

KNU ask President Thein Sein for a nationwide ceasefire

The Karen National Union’s peace talk delegation held an informal two-hour closed-door meeting with Burma’s President, U Thein Sein, in the country’s capital, Naypyidaw on Saturday.

The KNU’s general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, toldKaren News.

“We raised with him issues about a nationwide ceasefire and he [U Thein Sein] urged the KNU to talk to other ethnic groups for them to make peace and for the KNU talks to be the role model. U Thein Sein is not yet agreeing for our call for a nationwide ceasefire, but agreed the making of peace for the whole country is important.”

The KNU’s, Naw Zipporah Sein, also said she asked the President when the government will stop slandering the Karen political organization and its armed wing the Karen National Liberation Army as been illegal.

“We talked about when will his government stop libelling the KNU as an illegal organization and he responded that he [the government] will work step-by-step until the [peace talks] process improves, but he did not promise when the KNU will be welcomed as an legitimate force in Burma politics.”

The KNU delegation members who met with Burma’s President in Naypyidaw on Saturday, included Naw Zipporah Sein, Saw Htoo Htoo Lay, General Mu Tu Say Poe, Saw Roger Khin, and Saw Ta Doh Moo.

KNU meet Suu Kyi and 24 political leaders

The Karen National Union ‘peace talks’ delegation, that met with the Burma government and later in a separate meeting with President U Thein Sein, has been busy putting their case and gathering support among the country’s democracy groups for their cause.

Yesterday, the KNU delegation met with 24 leaders of the country’s ethnic and democratic political parties to explain their mission.

After introductions were concluded the KNU general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein explained the Karen delegation’s peace process. The ethnic leaders offered the KNU their support and suggest strategies that may help achieve peace.

Yesterday evening, the KNU delegation met with the Yangon Karen community at the Myanmar Baptist Convention Centre, in Alone Township.

Today the delegation is scheduled to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy and newly elected Member of Parliament, today at 2.30pm at her house in Rangoon.

The KNU say the meeting with Mrs Suu Kyi is to explain and discuss the KNU’s peace and democracy objectives.

 karen news

Burma: Foreigners or citizens may now bring up to US$ 10,000 into Burma without declaring it at customs on arrival, effective April 1.

Previously, foreigners or local citizens bringing in an amount of more than $2,000 had to declare it at customs on arrival at the airport, according to a statement by the Burmese Central Bank.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank has announced the adoption of a managed floating foreign exchange rate regime, saying the rate will be publicized daily by the bank.

As part of the government’s reform program, various exchange rates are being unified, aimed at the gradual elimination of restrictions on current international payment and transfer abroad.

The Central Bank is working together with domestic and international agencies to ensure a smooth change.

USDP says it will file counter complaints against the National League for Democracy (NLD)

Rangoon (Mizzima) -The Burmese government’s ruling political party says it will file counter complaints against the National League for Democracy (NLD), which has accused it of violating election laws.

Aung Thein Lin, the Rangoon Region head of the United Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said in a press conference in Rangoon on Friday it will file complaints against the NLD that it violated election laws in various townships in Rangoon Region during the campaign and the April 1 by-election.

“The [township] election commissions have the duty to investigate to know whether the allegations are correct or false,” Aung Thein Lin said.

He said the USDP has launched complaints against two cases of alleged violations in Kawhmu Township, one case in Mingalar Taung Myunt Township and 120 cases in Dagon Seikkan Township, and in three other townships in Rangoon Region that it failed to name. No details of the alleged violations were given.

Rangoon Region Union Solidarity and Development Party chief Aung Thein Lin at a press conference on the by-elections on Friday, April 6, 2012. Photo: Mizzima / Lynn Bo Bo

Commenting on the allegations that wax was applied on some NLD ballots to prevent voters from making a mark choosing the NLD, Aung Thein Lin said that there were no similar cases in the 2010 general elections, and he wants the election commission to investigate the charges.

“People said we were angry after suffering a defeat. Because of those words, we felt hurt twice,” said Aung Thein Lin.