KNU chairman calls for national unity and the dismantling of military dictatorship on 78th Karen National Day

Mizzima

Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, Chairman of the Karen National Union (KNU), has urged all Karen people, armed groups, political parties, and organizations to work together in unity to achieve the aspirations of the Karen.

The KNU’s statement noted that this remark was made in his speech delivered on 11 February at the occasion of the 78th Karen National Day.

“Every action we take must aim toward fulfilling our national goals and standing up for the Karen people. We must strive together in unity under the Karen national flag,” said Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win.

He also mentioned that depending on the evolving political landscape, everyone must collaborate to meet national aspirations. He added that opportunities for cooperation currently exist and called for participation in political efforts across their respective sectors.

He noted that the present time is a period of challenges not only for the Karen people but also for other ethnicities.

He also stated that the military coup is contrary to the goal of building a Federal Democratic Union, which is the desire of the Karen and all ethnic nationalities, and the military junta held elections as planned and won through fraudulent means to maintain lifelong rule over the country through chauvinism and dictatorship.

Therefore, he urged all ethnic nationalities to join hands to ensure long-term sustainability and development, and to dismantle all pillars of the dictatorship to end the military regime.

KNU Chairman Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win further encouraged Karen leaders, soldiers, the public, and the youth to work toward future political goals namely the sustainability and development of the Karen people while fighting against chauvinism and the military dictatorship to reach national objectives.

The National Unity Government (NUG) also sent a message for the 78th Karen National Day, stating its commitment to working with the entire Karen nation to end all forms of dictatorship and to build a Federal Democratic Union that fully guarantees national equality and the right to self-determination.