Open%Letter%to%KNU%by%Thelma%Gyi,%Daughter%of%Saw%Ba%U%Gyi% August%2013% % Sitting%at%my%desk%with%the%portrait%of%Saw%Ba%U%Gyi,%my%father,%looking%down%at% me,%I%am%writing%this%open%letter.% % The%Karen%National%Union%(KNU)%founded%and%led%by%Saw%Ba%U%Gyi%was%the%voice% of%all%Karen%people%during%63%years%of%our%struggle.%During%those%years%the%KNU% refused%to%give%up%the%struggle%to%realize%the%aim%of%the%4%principles%left%by%Saw% Ba%U%Gyi,%which%gave%the%Karens%unity%and%strength%to%hold%out%against%unequal% military%assaults%by%the%Burma%army%causing%privation,%hardship,%deaths%and% continuous%distress%to%our%woman%and%children.%% % The%4%principles%are%valid%today.%% 1. Surrender%(of%our%identity)%is%out%of%the%question.% 2. Recognition%of%the%Karen%State%(negotiated%and%legally%recognised)%must% be%complete.% 3.

We%will%retain%our%arms%(and%switch%our%military%objectives%to%a%police% force%to%maintain%law%and%order%in%Karen%State).% 4. We%will%decide%our%own%political%destiny%(in%the%governance%of%our%own% state).%% % Elections%are%promised%in%2015.%% % If%the%KNU%wishes%to%continue%as%the%voice%of%the%Karen%people%then%it%will%need% to%have%a%higher%profile%for%all%the%Karens%everywhere%to%hear%their%manifesto% and%aspirations,%set%on%example%of%behaviour,%be%transparent%and%trustworthy.% Personal%enrichment%is%human,%understandable%and%legitimate%only%if%it%is% transparent%and%honest.%% % Whether%the%KNU%remains%the%voice%and%aspiration%of%the%Karen%people%or% become%a%political%party%in%the%general%election%is%their%collective%decision.% % The%military%regime%however,%now%needs%to%prove%to%the%whole%world%that%its% promised%road%to%democracy%is%genuine.%Burma%must%have%peace,%stability%and% democratic%elections.% % Saw%Ba%U%Gyi%predicted%for%the%Karens,%only%3%weeks%before%he%was%killed.%When% force%of%circumstances%are%favourable%for%us%we%must%not%fail%to%grasp%the% opportunities%presented%to%achieve%our%goal.% % The%world%is%and%will%be%watching%Burma.%We%must%not%fail.%Now%is%our% opportunity.%% % Thelma%Gyi% Saw%Ba%U%Gyi%Poh%Mu.%% %