KNU Statement on Bombing near Capital of Burma’s Dictators

By Karen National Union • May 20, 2011

In an Agence France Press (AFP) report, datelined May 18, a bomb blast killed two and wounded seven civilians near billion-dollar, custom-built capital (Naypyitaw) of Burma’s military dictators and military controlled dictatorship government headed by former general, President Thein Sein. Without hesitation, a Thein Sein government’s official accused the KNU of being responsible for the blast.
We, the KNU, categorically reject accusation of the official, as the KNU has no policy of letting members of its armed wing, the KNLA, to engage in heinous acts of harming or killing civilians. Even in the frontline, the KNLA troops have to follow strict orders not to cause casualty to the civilians, who are regularly used by the Burma Army troops as human shields and forced labour.
It is very likely that the bombing was the plot of the dictatorship itself in a dastardly attempt to point fingers at the KNU, while an important US official was on a visit to the capital. It could also be the work of members of a clique within the Burma armed forces, which is against the dictatorship. It is clearly impossible for the outsiders to carry out such an act in places near the capital, which are under tight security, constantly.
It has been the policy of the previous Burma military dictatorships as well as the present military controlled one to use its army troops to commit gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity, especially against the ethnic civilian populations.
In their suppression drives against the resistance forces in the ethnic areas, the Burma army troops regularly perpetrate forced labour, forced relocation, extortion, looting of properties, burning down villages – destruction of farms, orchards, plantations, food stocks etc. – arbitrary arrest, torture, extrajudicial killing – planting landmines indiscriminately in the foot paths, villages etc. – assassination and, rape of women and underage girls.
It is time the military controlled Thein Sein dictatorship stopped devious attempts to divert international and domestic attention away from its policy of ethnic genocide. In conclusion, we call on it to engage with the ethnic and democratic forces for meaningful dialogue and national reconciliation, and walk on the path to genuine democracy, federalism and durable peace.

Supreme Headquarters
Karen National Union

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