temporarily resign after the group held an executive committee meeting, according to KNU executive committee member Padoh Saw Tah Doh Moo.
“We [the KNU] temporarily suspend our participation in the UNFC’s activities. We do not yet resign permanently, since our [central] executive committee will hold a meeting again,” said Padoh Saw Tah Doh Moo.
The KNU suspends its membership of the UNFC due to the fact that the group does not accept the UNFC’s authoritative system; the KNU objects to the fact that the UNFC’s organizational team holds decision-making sovereignty over its members, forcing every member group to accept their decisions.
“This can cause problems, to respond immediately, when we are holding talks with the government. And, this can cause delay. With the hope for us, as this fundamental enabling [coalition] and we want such unity,” said Padoh Saw Tah Doh Moo, adding that some things should be done together, as an alliance, while other things should be done differently, or separately.
Nai Hong Sar, the UNFC’s General-Secretary and re-appointed Vice-Chairman, comments that “[The] UNFC remains [acting in] all members’ wishes. Until now, the points that the KNU [identifies] are still different from those of every other members’ stance. The points that the KNU includes will be considered in the next [UNFC meeting], only if [the KNU] should be [included]. But, at the moment, [the] KNU’s points should not be taken into account yet.”
Nai Hong Sar further states that the points the KNU proposed at the UNRC’s first congress may cause changes in UNFC’s fundamental policies; including KNU’s proposal to instate three general secretaries, under whom will include respective department affairs; but there will be no central committee and chairmanship.
Padoh Saw Tah Doh Moo also stated that the KNU would not present the list of its representatives for the new leader election.
On final day of the UNFC’s first congress, 42 council members were elected, as well as 12 central executive committee members, for two-year terms from 2014-2016. The new leadership includes Lt-Gen N’Ban La, of the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO), as UNFC chairman; Nai Hong Sar, of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), as vice-chairman-1; Khu Oo Reh, of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), as general secretary; Hkun Okkar as joint-secretary-1; Salain Tanhay, of the Chin National Front (CNF), as joint-secretary-2; while the UNFC reserves two leading positions for KNU representatives, including the position of vice-chairmain-2.
The UNFC held its first congress for seven days, from August 25th to 28th, and again from August 31st to September 2nd, in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.
