KAREN NATIONAL DEFENSE ORGANIZATION

General Headquarters
Kawthoolei

Speech of Saw Nerdah Bo Mya, Commander-in-Chief of KNDO, on 67th

Anniversary KNDO Day
July 16, 2015
Dear Officers and Men, Civil Administrators and Karen Nationals,
Today is the 67th Anniversary of the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO) Day. On
this auspicious and cherished day, first I would like wish every one of you to have health, wealth,
vigor, high morale and contentment!
The KNDO organization was established by the Karen National Union (KNU). It is one of the
earliest Karen armed organizations. It was founded on July 16, 1947. The objective of the KNDO is
to defend the entire Karen nation so that others may not mistreat or oppress them. On January 31,
1949, the AFPFL army started attack on the KNU and KNDO headquarters in Insein Town, the
Karen resisted and the battle lasted 111 days. From that time on, the KNDO has never relented, up
to this day, and it has performed valiantly and fully for its nation. Up to this day, the land and
freedom for the entire Karen nation have not been fully realized. However, we need not be down
hearted in the least. The rights the Karen nation has asked for are correct and fair, and I truly
believe that the Karen nation will really get them. We are a nation and our aspiration to be
recognized as a nation is nothing wrong. Do not forget that our demands on February 11, 1948 for
the entire nation are:

Give Karen State, at once;

Give Equality to Karen, as Done to Burman, at once;
We do Not Want Civil War;
We Do Not Want Racial Strife.

The demands for the Karen Nation are not the decision of one or two persons. It is the
decision by the entire nation to have a land of freedom ruled by the Karen people, ratified and
recognized internationally. The dignity and honor of a nation is a land, a state. Whether we live in a
Federal Union or under a democratic system, if the Karen State is not recognized, respected and
ruled by the Karen, there will not be any benefit for the entire Karen nation. Now we see that the
Karen armed groups, which had split and had borne different views, have returned, talked together
and worked together with the KNU, and vowed together under the Karen national flag for unity and
not to fight one another. This is a good thing. Nowadays, since the enemy is using different kinds of
trickery with high levels of refinement, what I would like to say is, United We Stand and Divided We

Fall. It means that if we are united, we will prevail and if not, we will be ruined. Though the saying is
simple, it has a deep meaning.
We the Karen people are not afraid of poverty and difficulty. What we are afraid of most is to
have become slaves of other people. For that reason, we have revolutionary resistance to be free
from slavery. We hold weapons but if we do not work for the benefit the Karen people and work for
others, we are slaves. It is time for all the Karen armed organizations to work in unity. Our elders
said, Unity is Strength. If all the Karen armed organizations realize that we are Karen, there is
absolutely no reason for us to be afraid of the Burman military.
Currently, the KNU and the Burmese military dominated government are still in a time of
holding talks. We must be cautious and firmly uphold the Four Principles of Saw Ba U Gyi, which
say:
Surrender is Out of the Question;
We Shall Retain Our Arms;
Recognition of Karen State Must be Complete;
We Shall Decide Our Own Destiny.
President Saw Bo Mya said that Freedom is for Those Who Dare to Fight. Freedom is not
only to talk about. We also need to have other activities. General Saw Bo Mya also said, Our eyes
must see for the revolution, our ears must hear for the revolution, our hands must work for the
revolution and our feet must walk for the revolution.
For our victory and for the establishment of a Federal Union, it is vital for us to have our
national unity and cooperation with other nationalities. We must have unity with one another and join
hands with other nationalities with love and faithfulness. We will fight to demolish chauvinism and
establish a Federal Union beneficial to all the nationalities. This is our hope and our goal.
On the 67th Anniversary of KNDO Day, in conclusion, I would like to say May God bless
and look after every one of you, and may the entire Karen nation regain speedily its rights to decide
its own destiny and land of freedom.
To Victory!
Brigadier Gen. Saw Nerdah Bo Mya
Commander-in-Chief
KNDO