Sustainable Peace Should Come Before Business: Karen Commander

6 September 2013

The second-highest commander of the Karen National Liberation Army, Vice Chief of Staff Gen Baw Kyaw Heh, told Karen News that businesses should not come to Karen State until the rebels reach a comprehensive peace agreement with the Burmese government. “Businesses want to come to our areas, but we ask them not to,” he said,” First we need to create a sustainable situation.” He denied allegations that his demands are hindering peace talks. “I am not a hardliner, I want peace and I try to find the best and most acceptable way that we can build peace together,” he said.