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"We will not be part of an enterprise that does not involve a political solution" Padoh Mahn Sha, Secretary-General and spokesperson for the Karen National Union, talked with the Irrawaddy recently about the future of the KNU and the prospects of national reconciliation in Burma. Question: There have been some recent skirmishes between the Burmese army and the KNU. Has the KNU been initiating the fighting? Answer: It depends. We initiated the battle at Bayint Naung Hill a while ago. Before that, there had been a number of encounters. Also, there have been some unexpected encounters and clashes. Fighting breaks out almost everyday and it depends on all kinds of situations. Q: How about the clashes on January 7th and 8th? A: So far as I know, those hostilities took place by chance. Q: According to our intelligence reports, the Burmese troops will attack Vallay Kee, the KNU headquarters, soon. The KNU is also celebrating Karen Resistance Day at the end of the month. Will the attack be irredentist in nature? Will it be another routine dry season offensive? Or will the assault coincide with the Karen Resistance Day celebrations? A: We cannot say for sure. But I certainly don't think the Burmese army needs to find a special reason to attack us. They could launch an offensive against us for any number of reasons. Q: What do mean by ‘any number of reasons’? A: For instance, it could be during one of our [important] meetings, or significant ceremonies that the military knows we are going to organize. If and when it has the information about these sorts of events, the army tends to initiate attacks against the KNU at locations where these events are likely to be held. But they could find other reasons [to attack us] as well. Q: It appears that the Thai Government has pressured the Shan State Army-South, as they do not want any clashes between the Shan and the Burmese armies near their border. Has the KNU been pressured in any similar way? A: We, the KNU, are fighting in our own territory. We have the right to make our own decisions. We have the right to self-determination [in our own territory]. Therefore, no one can put pressure on us as far as our military maneuvers are concerned. Whether any fighting takes place depends on us. Q: The KNU and the SSA are the only two large organizations that remain committed to armed resistance. We have heard that Thai authorities want the KNU to enter a ceasefire with the junta. Can you comment on this? A: I am of the opinion that this has long been the desire of the Thai authorities. Not only that they want us to enter into a truce with the Burmese regime, but also that there have been attempts on their part to make it happen. It is understandable that they want it to materialize simply because only when we find peace and a political solution for Burma will the two countries be able to achieve a normal relationship. Only then will trade and economic development grow between the two countries. Q: Does the KNU also desire peace in Burma? A: Yes, we do. We have stated this repeatedly. We do not want civil war; we want peace and a political solution in Burma that is enshrined in democracy and federalism. In order for these problems to be resolved, we want to begin substantive negotiations [with the regime]. So far nothing has come to fruition. The conflict has been protracted because the SPDC has no policy towards genuine peace. Q: Suppose the junta wants the KNU to ‘return to Karen territory’, or return to the legal fold, similar to the Wa, for instance—you can retain your weapons, you will be allowed to engage in business activities, but there will be no political talks. At the same time, the Thais continue to pressure you to go back to Burma. How would the KNU respond? A: There are three answers to your question. The first is about the regime wanting us to return to our territory. I don' t think we need to go back to our areas. We are residing in our own beloved areas in the country so there is no need for us to return home. As for a similar deal with the regime just like the Wa.… We cannot accept it simply because there is a pre-condition to lay down our arms and return to the legal fold, there must be cooperation with the Burmese regime. The regime’s ceasefires with the Wa and other groups were signed over a decade ago and there has been no political discussion. Instead, many from the ceasefire groups have become businessmen. Some ethnic groups such as the Wa have tarnished their reputations because of drug trafficking. The KNU cannot accept this type of notoriety. So far as the question about giving up armed resistance and returning to the legal fold is concerned, we are ready to make it happen if every armed group gives up their arms. That includes the Burmese junta, which has the largest amount of weapons. The Burmese junta will have to initiate it first.