KLUU Press Release on 1st Meeting Between (Karen National Union) KNU Delegation and Union-Level Peace Delegation

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Country/entity: Myanmar
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: KLUU Press Release on 1st Meeting Between (Karen National Union) KNU Delegation and Union-Level Peace Delegation
Date: 7 Apr 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 union-level meeting was attended by 19-member delegation, including 7 ministers led by Railways Minister U Aung Min, on the side of government of the Republic of the Union of Burma (Myanmar) and the 14-member delegation led by General Secretary Naw Zipporah Sein on the side of the KNU.
Third parties: -
Description: Short agreement outlining ceasefire provisions.

Agreement document: MM_120407_The-KNU-Press-Release-on1st.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: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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 following 6 points were focused on in discussions at the meeting.
4. To stop the practice of forced labor and cash collection by various means, including demand of cash as donation and by other means.
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: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Property return and restitution
Page 1, The following 6 points were focused on in discussions at the meeting.
5. To release political prisoners and resolve rehabilitation and land problems of the people.
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: Psge 1, The following 6 points were focused on in discussions at the meeting.
2. To guarantee life security and freedom from fear of the people.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, At the meeting, agreement to be implemented by both sides was adopted for the realization of ceasefire in practice, trust building and guarantee for security of the people.

Psge 1, The following 6 points were focused on in discussions at the meeting.
1. To establish nationwide ceasefire - establishing ceasefire especially in the ethnic nationality regions.

Page 1, Agreement was reached at the meeting regarding the code of conduct for ceasefire, relating to the 6 points above, to be followed by both sides, for having a monitoring team and for implementation of the 13-point decision of the meeting for security of life of the people.
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: No specific mention.
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 following 6 points were focused on in discussions at the meeting.
5. To release political prisoners and resolve rehabilitation and land problems of the people.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 1, The following 6 points were focused on in discussions at the meeting.
3. To establish a state among the people to acquire confidence.

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: Page 1, The following 6 points were focused on in discussions at the meeting.
6. To start arrangement for monitoring, analyzing and rectifying the peace process.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Karen National Union (KNU) Website; http://karennationalunion.net/index.php/burma/news-and-reports/news-stories/the-knu- press-release-on-1st-meeting-between-knu-delegation-and-union-level

The KNU Press Release on 1st Meeting between KNU Delegation and Union- Level Peace Delegation

07 Apr 2012

The 1st meeting between the KNU Delegation and the Union-Level Peace Delegation was held on April 6, 2012 in Rangoon.

The union-level meeting was attended by 19-member delegation, including 7 ministers led by Railways Minister U Aung Min, on the side of government of the Republic of the Union of Burma (Myanmar) and the 14-member delegation led by General Secretary Naw Zipporah Sein on the side of the KNU.

At the meeting, agreement to be implemented by both sides was adopted for the realization of ceasefire in practice, trust building and guarantee for security of the people.

The following 6 points were focused on in discussions at the meeting.

1. To establish nationwide ceasefire - establishing ceasefire especially in the ethnic nationality regions.

2. To guarantee life security and freedom from fear of the people.

3. To establish a state among the people to acquire confidence.

4. To stop the practice of forced labor and cash collection by various means, including demand of cash as donation and by other means.

5. To release political prisoners and resolve rehabilitation and land problems of the people.

6. To start arrangement for monitoring, analyzing and rectifying the peace process.

Agreement was reached at the meeting regarding the code of conduct for ceasefire, relating to the 6 points above, to be followed by both sides, for having a monitoring team and for implementation of the 13-point decision of the meeting for security of life of the people.

The KNU will continue to hold meetings with the Burmese (Myanmar) government, systematically, until the goal of genuine peace in Burma (Myanmar) is reached.

Contact points:

[redacted]