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Karen National Union

KNUEthnic/State Organization

The KNU's overall mission is to establish a genuine federal union together with the whole Karen nation and all ethnic groups for harmony, peace, stability and prosperity.[i]

The KNU's headquarters is at Klo Yaw Lay, and its armed wings are the KNLA and KNDO. Under the KNU's administration there are seven districts: Thaton, Toungoo, Nyaunglebin, Mergui/Tavoy, Mutraw, Dooplaya and Hpa-an. The KNU has 14 departments, including foreign affairs and defence departments.

The KNU has held peace talks with successive Myanmar governments, and in 2012 signed preliminary agreements at state/region and union levels to build peace.

The KNU signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) together with other armed groups on October 15, 2015, and led in the peace process. On October 27, 2018, it suspended its participation in the peace process, and on November 10, 2018, it announced the position statement from the KNU's 6th Central Standing Committee emergency meeting. It rejoined the peace process from July 2020, but no results were achieved. Even before the junta's attempted coup, when news of a coup was spreading widely, the KNU issued a statement on the current Myanmar political situation dated January 29, 2021.

On February 2, 2021, it issued a position on the coup. It earnestly called for the release of all detainees and for finding solutions through peaceful dialogue, and stated that it would stand together with all ethnic peoples. Then, on February 14, 2021, the KNU issued a statement opposing the coup. Districts under KNU administration also issued statements that the KNU supports and will help protect non-violent expressions of opposition. It also issued statements on the junta's violations against civilians. In particular, on April 2, 2021, it strongly objected to the junta's violence, regarding the junta's air strikes from March 27 to 31, 2021.  It also conducts military training in KNU-controlled territory and protects CDM staff and civilians. On September 3, 2021, it issued the "KNU principles on current situation". In a statement dated May 9, 2022, it also said it would not attend the military council's invitation to peace talks because there was no setting in which all stakeholders could take part. It has also issued joint statements with other anti-dictatorship groups and organizations, such as the NUG, CRPH, KNPP, CNF, NLD and ABSDF, on humanitarian matters and against crimes committed by the military dictatorship.  

Fighting with military council forces is now taking place in all seven KNU-controlled districts, and because junta forces are carrying out air strikes, there are civilian casualties and the number of displaced people is rising daily. The KNU's statements and actions show that it has consistently opposed the terrorist junta.

The KNU is also a member organization of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC).

References
1. https://www.knuhq.org/public/mm
2. https://www.khrg.org/my/reports

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