Tens of Thousands call For Withdrawal of Burma Army and an end to military rule
On Karen National Day, 11 February, the European Karen Network joins Karen people all over the world in renewing our calls for peace, national equality, and self-determination. We call on the Burmese Army to immediately withdraw their troops from our Karen areas and stop their attacks against our Karen people.
In Karen State, tens of thousands of Karen people from both Burmese government-controlled areas and Karen National Union areas join hands together, united in opposing the occupation of Karen lands by the Burmese military, and opposing the coup. Protesters demand the establishment of a genuine federal democratic Burma. Villagers in Taw Oo (Taungoo) areas hold protests in several locations in front of the Burmese Army’s camps.
73 years ago on 11 February, our Karen people, suffering discrimination and inequality, took to the streets peacefully protesting. We demanded national equality and self-determination with our calls:
- Give us Karen State, at once! (We want Freedom);
- Show Karen one Kyat, Burman one Kyat, at once! (We want equality & democratic rights);
- We don’t want communal strife! (We want communal harmony);
4. We don’t want civil war! (We want peace).
Our peaceful protests were met with bullets, bombs and repression.
Our Karen people have been suffering for decades under Burmese governments, during periods of civilian governments and military dictatorships. Many of us have been forced to flee our homes, hiding as displaced people in the jungle. Hundreds of thousands now live in refugee camps along the border of Thailand, or have had to find new homes all over the world. We all just want to go back home.
Currently, over 5,000 Karen people are hiding in the jungle without food, medicine and shelter, following attacks by the Burmese Army since December 2020. Humanitarian aid has long been restricted in these areas by the Burmese authorities. These are war crimes and crimes against humanity and must be met by strong international action to end impunity and prevent further abuses.
We call on the international community to listen to the voices of these grassroots people by demanding the Burmese military immediately stop their attacks and withdraw their troops in Karen and all ethnic areas. Donor governments should prioritise providing life-saving aid to internally displaced people through cross-border mechanisms.
We stand in solidarity with those resisting the military coup. All the people of Burma must work together for peace, human rights and a federal democracy in our country.
