Statement on Initial Agreement between the Karen National Union (KNU) and Burmese Government

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Country/entity
Myanmar
Region
Asia and Pacific
Agreement name
Statement on Initial Agreement between the Karen National Union (KNU) and Burmese Government
Date
13 Jan 2012
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Myanmar Conflict (1948 - ) )
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Government/territory
Peace process
Myanmar ceasefires process with ethnic armed groups
Parties
The 19-member KNU delegation held talks with Railways Minister, U Aung Min, and other representatives of the Burmese government
Third parties
-
Description
Short 1-page agreement outlines the 11 points of the KNU, including the establishment of a ceasefire, a guarantee of Human rights, the need for trust, the need for basic development, the need for involvement of the national media in the peace process, the end of forced labour, exploitation and other crimes against villagers, and so forth.

Agreement document
MM_120113_KNUandBurmeseGovernment.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth
No specific mention.
Disabled persons
No specific mention.
Elderly/age
No specific mention.
Migrant workers
No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group
No specific mention.
Religious groups
No specific mention.
Indigenous people
No specific mention.
Other groups
No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons
No specific mention.
Social class
No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender
No specific mention.
Men and boys
No specific mention.
LGBTI
No specific mention.
Family
No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general)
No specific mention.
State configuration
No specific mention.
Self determination
No specific mention.
Referendum
No specific mention.
State symbols
No specific mention.
Independence/secession
No specific mention.
Accession/unification
No specific mention.
Border delimitation
No specific mention.
Cross-border provision
No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed)
No specific mention.
Elections
No specific mention.
Electoral commission
No specific mention.
Political parties reform
No specific mention.
Civil society
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 9. Ensure the legitimacy of representatives involved in negotiations, provide adequate time for their consultation with respective constituencies and establish a clear role for third parties.
Traditional/religious leaders
No specific mention.
Public administration
No specific mention.
Constitution
No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing
No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing
No specific mention.
Economic power sharing
No specific mention.
Military power sharing
No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 2. Guarantee the human rights and safety of all civilians.
Bill of rights/similar
No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation
No specific mention.
Civil and political rights
Human rights and equality→Civil and political rights→Slavery
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 6. Immediately stop forced labour, arbitrary taxation and extortion of villagers.
Socio-economic rights
No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship
No specific mention.
Democracy
No specific mention.
Detention procedures
No specific mention.
Media and communication
Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 5. Allow national media outlets to participate in the peace processes, in order to provide accurate information about developments.
Mobility/access
No specific mention.
Protection measures
No specific mention.
Other
No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI
No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions
No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law
No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions
No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts
No specific mention.
Prisons and detention
No specific mention.
Traditional Laws
No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction
Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 4. Support the basic needs of the people and ensure that development projects have the full participation and support of local villagers.
National economic plan
No specific mention.
Natural resources
No specific mention.
International funds
No specific mention.
Business
No specific mention.
Taxation
Socio-economic reconstruction→Taxation→Reform of taxation
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 6. Immediately stop forced labour, arbitrary taxation and extortion of villagers.
Banks
No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights
Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Land reform and management
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 7. Release all political prisoners and provide solutions to settle land rights issue.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights
No specific mention.
Cultural heritage
No specific mention.
Environment
No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access
No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees
No specific mention.
Ceasefire
Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, • The KNU delegation reached an initial agreement with the Burmese government’s
representatives towards a ceasefire agreement. When the delegation returns to our headquarters, the KNU leadership will discuss about subsequent steps required in this dialogue with the Burmese government.

Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
1. Establish a nationwide ceasefire and immediately cease military operations in ethnic areas.
Police
No specific mention.
Armed forces
No specific mention.
DDR
No specific mention.
Intelligence services
No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces
No specific mention.
Corruption
No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 6. Immediately stop forced labour, arbitrary taxation and extortion of villagers.
Drugs
No specific mention.
Terrorism
No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general
No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon
No specific mention.
Courts
No specific mention.
Mechanism
No specific mention.
Prisoner release
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 7. Release all political prisoners and provide solutions to settle land rights issue.
Vetting
No specific mention.
Victims
No specific mention.
Missing persons
No specific mention.
Reparations
No specific mention.
Reconciliation
Page 1, • The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:
... 3. Build trust among the people.

Implementation

UN signatory
No specific mention.
Other international signatory
No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement
No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar
No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism
No specific mention.
Related cases
No specific mention.
Source
Previously on file with author. Also available at: http://theirwords.org/media/transfer/doc/mm_knu_knla_2012_20-a223e74f2ea635df310cc3a304646ac9.pdf.

Statement on Initial Agreement between KNU and Burmese Government

13 Jan 2012

• The 19-member KNU delegation held talks with Railways Minister, U Aung Min, and other representatives of the Burmese government on 12-1-2012, in Pa-an.

• The KNU delegation reached an initial agreement with the Burmese government’s representatives towards a ceasefire agreement.

When the delegation returns to our headquarters, the KNU leadership will discuss about subsequent steps required in this dialogue with the Burmese government.

• The KNU welcomes the report by its delegation that the Burmese government’s representatives agreed, in principle, to the eleven-point proposal, which the KNU presented in the talks.

The KNU leadership will take further steps to continue concrete discussions on how the terms and conditions of the proposal will be materialized on the ground, in detail, before both sides can agree on the final ceasefire agreement.

• The eleven points of the KNU proposal are:

1. Establish a nationwide ceasefire and immediately cease military operations in ethnic areas.

2. Guarantee the human rights and safety of all civilians.

3. Build trust among the people.

4. Support the basic needs of the people and ensure that development projects have the full participation and support of local villagers.

5. Allow national media outlets to participate in the peace processes, in order to provide accurate information about developments.

6. Immediately stop forced labour, arbitrary taxation and extortion of villagers.

7. Release all political prisoners and provide solutions to settle land rights issue.

8. Set out principles for all parties to ensure a genuine peace process.

9. Ensure the legitimacy of representatives involved in negotiations, provide adequate time for their consultation with respective constituencies and establish a clear role for third parties.

10. Initiate a plan for monitoring and ensuring the transparency of the peace process.

11. Establish a flexible process that guarantees progress towards sustainable peace, and in which all parties speak straightforwardly and avoid using words that may be misinterpreted.

Karen National Union

Supreme Headquarters