Karen National Union (KNU) Chairman Gen. Saw Mutu Say Poe visited Defence Services Academy (DSA) at Pyin Oo Lwin on 13 January, KNU General Secretary Padoh Kwe Htoo Win has confirmed.
Padoh Kwe Htoo Win said, “He visited DSA to study it. DSA is our military academy in the country. It is for the defence of our country. The study tour to such an academy is a routine matter, it is not strange ora remarkable visit.”
KNU Chairman Gen. Saw Mutu Say Poe is attending the Union Peace Convention being held in Naypyitaw and he visited DAS in Pyin Oo Lwin from there.
Defence Services C-in-C Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing invited ethnic armed forces to serve in the country’s defence services in his opening address delivered at the Union Peace Convention on 12January, 2016.
Padoh Kwe Htoo Win said that the KNU Chairman’s visit to DSA in Pyin Oo Lwin was nothing to do with the invitation extended by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.
“Fundamentally our ethnic nationalities will serve for country’s defence responsibly if the issues of ethnic rights and political issues can be resolved. Only after resolving all of these issues, what he (Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing) said will be realized, I think,” He added.
The Union Peace Convention is being held in Naypyitaw from 12 - 16 January and Gen. Mutu Say Poe delivered an opening address at this convention. At the opening ceremony, he pointed out in his address that national reconciliation could be achieved only if the 2008 constitution is amended.
“We can get secured and assured national reconciliation only after the constitution has been amended accordingly and it will ensure the building of federal union,” Gen. Mutu Say Poe said.