• Burmese
Friday, December 1, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
6 °c
Ashburn
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

KNU Criticized for Lack of Transparency in Development Projects

by Saw Yan Naing
December 14, 2016
in Burma
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
KNU chairman Saw Mutu Say Poe (third from right) and Ngwe Soe (second from left) pose with business leaders in Dawei, December 13, 2016. / Ngwe Soe / Facebook

KNU chairman Saw Mutu Say Poe (third from right) and Ngwe Soe (second from left) pose with business leaders in Dawei, December 13, 2016. / Ngwe Soe / Facebook

8.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Civil society organizations criticized the Karen National Union (KNU), Burma’s oldest ethnic armed organization, on Wednesday for its lack of transparency when signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with multiple trading companies.

At least 17 Karen civil society organizations released a joint statement condemning the MOU on Wednesday, and over 300 additional civil society groups endorsed it. They said that KNU chairman Saw Mutu Say Poe and other KNU leaders failed to inform Karen civilians of the signing of the MOU, which will allow several companies to build new development and business projects in Tenasserim Division in southern Burma.

RelatedPosts

Myanmar IDPs Stranded by Junta Troops in Northern Shan State Face a Long Walk Home

Myanmar IDPs Stranded by Junta Troops in Northern Shan State Face a Long Walk Home

November 30, 2023
1.6k
Myanmar Junta Relying on Airstrikes in Loikaw Fighting: Resistance

Myanmar Junta Relying on Airstrikes in Loikaw Fighting: Resistance

November 30, 2023
871
Myanmar Junta Plays Up ‘Strong’ China Ties a Week After Anti-Beijing Protests

Myanmar Junta Plays Up ‘Strong’ China Ties a Week After Anti-Beijing Protests

November 30, 2023
1.8k

On Tuesday, the KNU chairman and representatives of Burmese and Chinese companies attended a signing ceremony for the MOU which will cover two major projects—the Mae Tha Mee Khee industrial project and the Tanintharyi renewable energy project, which will construct a dam on the Tanintharyi River—and several smaller related projects, including a small port and new roads in Myeik and Dawei townships.

“We are greatly disappointed that the KNU chairman rushed to attend the signing ceremony, and we do not accept the MOU signed for these projects because the signing goes against the will of the Karen people,” read the statement released by the civil society organizations.

“Investment in large-scale infrastructure projects must not come before sustainable peace and political dialogue,” said the statement.

Companies that signed the MOU included Noble Prince Co., Sun and Rainbow Co., and Power China International Group. U Ngwe Soe, managing director at Sun and Rainbow Co., also attended the meeting.

Civil society organizations, however, said they were never informed about the industrial projects and expressed concern that these projects will cause more harm than good. The KNU and industrial companies also didn’t consult with the local Karen communities about the two major projects.

Other ongoing projects in Myeik and Dawei townships have drawn recent complaints too. Local Karen communities are concerned about the negative impacts from a palm oil project at Myanmar Stark Prestige Plantation (MSPP) and from the Ban Chaung coal mine.

Although KNU chairman Saw Mutu Say Poe attended the MOU signing, not all of the KNU central committee members were aware of the MOU, and it remains unclear what the KNU’s involvement is with these projects.

KNU vice-chairperson Naw Zipporah Sein told The Irrawaddy that she and other leaders don’t know anything about the MOU.

“We were not aware of it,” she said. “We never talked about the KNU signing an MOU with those companies. I don’t know what business and development they are going to carry out. Some concerned KNU leaders or leaders in Dawei Township may know more about the projects.”

Naw Zipporah Sein said the KNU leadership should have discussed the MOU and how it would benefit local Karen communities. She said the KNU economic committee also had not discussed the projects in Dawei Township.

“We don’t know how big or small the projects are,” said Naw Zipporah Sein. “And if they are producing energy, mega-projects, or mining, we don’t know how the energy will be delivered. We also don’t know if it will benefit local communities. We already decided in the past that these mega-projects should not be carried out before our political problems are resolved and before we establish a lasting peace.”

The 17 Karen civil society organizations also urged the KNU to listen to the Karen people and to not proceed with more business projects that will harm the environment or human rights.

One activist said the KNU chairman’s lack of transparency was undemocratic.

“The KNU are not acting in a way that is transparent and accountable to their own Karen people,” said Saw Alex Htoo, deputy director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network. “It is not a democratic act, what the KNU chairman is doing. How will these projects benefit the Karen people or the KNU as an organization?”

Saw Alex Htoo also opposed development projects in Karen State or other ethnic states which serve to strengthen centralized government over federal and decentralized structures.

The civil society organizations urged that new development projects in Tenasserim Division not move forward without a public consultation process that involves civil society groups and local communities.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: DevelopmentHydropowerKarenKaren National Union (KNU)
Previous Post

Defense Ministry Gets Lion’s Share of Supplementary Budget

Next Post

Government Sets Spending Priorities for Foreign Aid Money

Saw Yan Naing

Saw Yan Naing

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Myanmar Resistance’s Next Steps are Clear; It’s the Junta’s that Aren’t

Myanmar Resistance’s Next Steps are Clear; It’s the Junta’s that Aren’t

August 8, 2023
12.2k
Myanmar Junta Suffers Heavy Casualties, Defections in Battle for Karen Hilltop

Myanmar Junta Suffers Heavy Casualties, Defections in Battle for Karen Hilltop

August 15, 2023
1.9k
One Dead, 12 Wounded in Bomb Blast in Myanmar’s Karen State

One Dead, 12 Wounded in Bomb Blast in Myanmar’s Karen State

July 31, 2023
900
Myanmar Power Shortage Leaves Millions at Mercy of Searing Summer

Myanmar Power Shortage Leaves Millions at Mercy of Searing Summer

May 8, 2023
6.2k
Chinese Mega Project in Myanmar ‘Not Affected’ by Owner’s Arrest: Company Official

Chinese Mega Project in Myanmar ‘Not Affected’ by Owner’s Arrest: Company Official

August 15, 2022
10.1k
Karen Education in the Thai-Myanmar Border Regions

Karen Education in the Thai-Myanmar Border Regions

April 24, 2023
4.8k
Load More
Next Post
The DACU and CPG hold their first meeting in Naypyidaw, December 12, 2016. / MOI / Facebook

Government Sets Spending Priorities for Foreign Aid Money

Authorities in Mon State visit a Thai cement factory was built without informing locals or the authorities.

Environmental Advocates Push for More Renewable Energy in Burma

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

3 days ago
5k
Operation 1111 ‘Close to Securing All of Kayah State for Myanmar Resistance’

Operation 1111 ‘Close to Securing All of Kayah State for Myanmar Resistance’

3 days ago
2.6k

Most Read

  • Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

    Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Chief Says ‘Foreign Experts’ Helping in Offensive Against Military

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Plays Up ‘Strong’ China Ties a Week After Anti-Beijing Protests

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar IDPs Stranded by Junta Troops in Northern Shan State Face a Long Walk Home

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.