Historically, the Nation-State of Karenni was
recognized as independent by its neighboring states and countries.
Until 1948, there was no evidence in any history - Karenni or Burmese -
that it had been a colony of the Burmans.
We only can see that in some
history books the Karenni sawphyas (princes) sometimes formed a
friendship with the Burmese King.
On June 21, 1875, the honorable Sir Douglas Forsyth
who represented the Imperial British government, and King Wounmingui, on
behalf of the Burmese, signed an agreement that Karenni was to be under
the control of neither the British nor the Burmans.
In February 1946, the Shan sawbwas (princes) invited
Karenni sawphyas to attend the First Panglong Conference which was to
be held in Shan State. The Karenni Sawphyas refused to attend the
conference because Karenni was an independent country and they feared
that by attending a meeting sponsored by the people of the British
colony (the Shan States) they would risk losing their independence.
In the same month, Mr. Stephenson, Chief
Commissioner of the Frontier Areas Administrative Board (FAAB) arrived
in Loikaw, the capital of Karenni State. He came to Karenni State to
ask whether the Karenni government had any desire to join this Frontier
Areas Administration Board. Sooner or later the British government
would give autonomy to Burma, at which point the Shan, Karen, Chin, and
Kachin of the Frontier Areas planned to combine and form the Frontier
Areas Administrative Board. The Karenni government also decided not to
join the Frontier Areas because by joining it might lose its
independence and sovereignty.
The Burmese Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
(AFPFL) wanted Karenni State to join the Frontier Area. They tried to
persuade the Karenni people to join their would-be formed union of
Burma, but Karenni leaders were not interested. The AFPFL used many
tactics in their attempt to absorb Karenni State, but Karenni leaders
had already decided to safeguard the independence and self-determination
of Karenni State.
All of the leaders of the Frontier Areas attended
the Panglong Conference and signed the Panglong Agreement. Karenni
leaders did not attend and did not sign, but the Burmese AFPFL, in one
of its attempts to force Karenni State into the agreement, told the
British that Karenni State had signed the Panglong Agreement and had
become part of the Frontier Areas.
The leaders of the Frontiers Areas accepted the
accession of their states to Burma with the intention of forming the
Union of Burma by signing the Panglong Agreement on 12 February. The
Burmese government would soon try other methods of putting pressure on
Karenni State to join its Union.
Burma gained its independence from the British on
January 4, 1948 and the AFPFL became the first government of modern
Burma. The AFPFL invaded Karenni State on August 9, 1948 and captured
the Karenni National Organization (KNO) headquarters in Myat Leh
village.
The date of August 9 (now called the "Day of
Resistance") marked the beginning of the national resistance to
successive Burmese governments which have not only occupied Karenni
State, but exploited its natural resources as well.
The Karenni people have resorted to an armed
struggle to make their motherland free from the oppressive government of
Burma. The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) is still leading
the people of Karenni in trying to reach its goal of being free from all
external domination.
Written by: Theh Mar, age 17 years, 10th Standard, and
Augustine, age 16 years, 9th Standard.
Augustine, age 16 years, 9th Standard.
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