Always though, the demands were the same. The recent negotiations were the sixth time the KNU had met with the central governments in the past sixty-three years, sometimes they were democratic governments, sometimes dictatorships. The agreement does give me some hope, but I am also feeling very cautious. When it became clear that the international community would not relax sanctions while conflict in ethnic areas was increasing, the government started talking about ceasefires.Īs an ethnic Karen woman forced to flee my home at just 14 when the Burmese Army attacked our village, many people expect me to be very excited about a potential ceasefire agreement with the KNU. Burmese governments frequently raise the relaxation of sanctions as a reward for steps they are taking. The question is how genuine are these steps, and how far is the military-backed government willing to go forward for peace? With the recent release of high profile political prisoners, and the agreement in principle of a ceasefire with the Karen National Union (KNU), there is no doubt that major developments are happening in Burma.
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