Karens and Myanmar

I refer to your report (Reuters) on Mutiny rocks Karen guerrilla army. Regrettably, the whole report is slanted in favor of the extreme hard-line group in the movement led mainly by Baptists. They had never, and are not fighting for democracy in Myanmar.

They rebelled in 1949 against U Nu's democratic government. In an official letter to the British government then, they requested assistance to establish an Independent Karen Nation comprising areas not only in the Burmese heartland of Myanmar but also in Thailand where some Karens live. From then to today, this hard- line group has never renounced that objective. They have no historical or legal basis for this claim, except for a vague promise made by some British officers who led them in resistance against the Japanese during World War II.

Of the three million Karens, half are Buddhists and another quarter Roman Catholics, and most of them (over 90 percent) live inter-mingled with the Burmese in peace and harmony. There are more Karens serving loyally in the Myanmar Armed forces and the government than there are with that extreme group (Study by Dr. Robert Taylor of the London School of Oriental Studies).

They weakened themselves significantly in the 1960s when the present extreme group ruthlessly purged a stronger group which wanted to maintain close alliance with the Burma Communist Party insurgence; and again in the 1970s when, after joining U Nu's rebel group on the Myanmar-Thai Border, they murdered some prominent leaders of U Nu's group, because the Burmese group could not agree to their demand for outright Independence.

What is happening now amongst themselves is not due to any "instigation" by the Myanmar government. History, anywhere in the world, has shown that the extremism begets disunity and self- destruction. The fundamental contradiction in their movement is that between their leader's wealth of business interests across the border and the hardships and sacrifices demanded for the rank and file.

If they truly seek federalism and democracy the invitation remains for them to participate in the on-going National Convention, and to renounce, with honor, the path of extremism and sectarian violence.

U NYI NYI THAN

Ambassador

Myanmar Embassy

Jakarta