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 - )
Internal conflict, mostly along ethno-political fault lines, has been a constant feature of Myanmar since its independence in 1948. The conflict has two distinct dynamics. First a struggle between an authoritarian government and a pro-democracy opposition which has the characteristics of authoritarian conflicts; and second a stuggle between the government and ethnic armed groups which has the characteristics of an identity conflict. The two oldest and strongest militias fighting the government are the Karen National Union (KNU), which has remained active since the late 1940s, and the Kachin Independence Organisation, which was formed in the early 1960s. In total, here are more than a dozen mostly ethnic-based guerrilla groups active throughout the country. Especially in the period of junta dictatorship that lasted until 2011 the government attempted to crush the rebellions, which led to numerous human rights violations. With the start of democratic reforms in the aftermath of the 2010 elections, peace negotiations have taken place and resulted in the signing of various agreements, although conflicts remain active.
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 (opens in new tab) | 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