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CFOB strongly condemns the murder of
Karen leader Mahn Sha

Statement by Canadian Friends of Burma
February 19, 2008

(Ottawa, Feb.-19-08) - Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) joins members of the Burma democracy movement around the world in condemning the murder of Mahn Sha, general secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU). The KNU is Burma's oldest ethnic opposition group and represents Burma's largest ethnic minority, the Karen.

Mahn Sha was shot and killed by unknown gunmen on February 14 while at his home in the border town of Mae Sot, Thailand. The politician and freedom fighter was 64 years old. He was a strong force in Burma's opposition movement, and throughout his lengthy involvement in the struggle against Burma's military dictatorship he worked hard to unify the various ethnic, religious and political groups that comprise Burma's opposition forces. He was held in high regard by the entire opposition movement both Burman and ethnic alike.

Included in the long list of those mourning Mahn Sha's killing is Burma's National League for Democracy (NLD), the political party led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Nyan Win, spokesperson for the NLD told AP that Mahn Sha's "death was a great loss as he was a person we could rely on for the country's national reconciliation and unity". Well respected overseas, Mahn Sha's death elicited the following from US Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Task Force on International Religious Freedom, "the assassination of this visionary Karen leader is a great loss for the Karen people and the movement for democracy in Burma."

Mahn Sha, whose mother tongue was the Pwo dialect of Karen, was a Buddhist born in Taw Gyaung village, Maubin district, in the Irrawaddy delta. Thus making him a minority in the KNU leadership, overwhelmingly composed of Christian Sgaw speakers. Mahn Sha who had been KNU General Secretary since 2000 remained committed to his people's struggle throughout the last few years, which has been particularly difficult period for the once powerful KNU.

In Karen areas not under the control of the Burmese military, the KNU is the defacto government, KNU territory however has been reduced significantly in recent years as the Burmese military has made major gains against the KNU.

In an interview with the opposition newspaper Mizzima, conducted just days before his killing Mahn Sha criticized the Burmese Junta's recent announcement that it would hold elections in 2010. He stated his concern that a rigged election would be the general's path to the legitimacy they badly crave.

Mahn Sha's killing is indeed a major setback for the Burma democracy movement. We hope that those who take his place and continue the struggle will follow Mahn Sha's commitment to dialogue and consensus building as a means to making a democratic and prosperous Burma. He will be sorely missed.

-Canadian Friends of Burma-

____________________________

The Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) is federally incorporated, national non-governmental organization working for democracy and human rights in Burma since 1991. Contact: Suite 206, 145 Spruce St., Ottawa, K1R 6P1; Tel: 613.237.8056; Fax: 613.563.0017; Email: cfob@cfob.org; Website: www.cfob.org

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