Naw Peh Wah Mu

The word freedom means in universal terms personal liberty, exemption or release from slavery or imprisonments civil liberty, independence, and power of self – determination and freedom of speech.

When God created us, He gave us freedom and choice. Our Karen people live inside and/or in revolutionary areas, so what is freedom for them. What is freedom to our Karen people? But I have very special hope that one day our Karen people will have freedom both physical and spiritual.

When our Karen people came to Burma, no other people lived here. The Karen were the first people to settle in the land. They called the place that they are stayed in is Kaw Lah. Kaw Lah means green land or green country. Every thing was green because there were many trees, and trees covered the mountain. Later many people came and the Karen people were moved from place to place and they had to live in places far from others. Because they did not quarreling to others.

Why do our Karen people have to fight? We fight for our freedom and we want to have self-determination and to rule and control our selves.

On 4^th of January 1948 the Burmese military or Burma received complete independence and unification. When Karen leaders know Burma received independence they went to the governor and asked for the freedom. But the military did not give in to them. The Karen were told to try again. Later our leaders know that the military would not gave in to them, because if we need peace we have to surrender and gave all big weapons that we have. If the Karen leaders didn't want to do in this way they have to fight for their freedom. So our leaders knew and decided that the latest freedom of choice is we have to fight. If we are to have freedom, we have to fight because the last chance that our Karen people have to earn it. First our leaders do not want to choose this way but if we looked in Ethical terms is Categorical imperative and utilitarianism, it means in this situation we have to choose one thing. It will be right or wrong we have to choose; this is the challenge to our people. Also this is for many people and the last way. Before they started to fight all our Karen people who lived in Burma they demonstrated there selves and show out 
their want as follow:

1. Give Karen state at once.

2. Show Karen one kyat and Burmese one kyat at once.

3. We don't want ration conflict.

4. We do not want civil war.

On 31^st of January 1949 our Karen people started to fight for our freedom. That day is recognized and celebrated as our Karen Revolution Day. It is still the day, which remembers that many of our Karen leaders and many soldiers have to give themselves and scarified themselves for our Karen people. Because of our leaders and soldier struggle they are going down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Why do our leaders have to scarify themselves? Because of they want freedom of self-determination and to express their emotions. They want real freedom. One of the Karen great leaders 
Ba U Gyi speaks out for all the Karen people. He states:   

    1.   For us surrender is out of question.
    2.     The recognition of the Karen statement must be complete.
    3.     We shall retain our arms.
    4.     We shall decide our own political destiny.

What is personal liberty for our Karen people? When my mother was pregnant and when I stayed in my mothers' womb, my father was caught by Burmese soldier. My father had to go with SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) as a potter and they tided my father hand with rope with in the back and forced him to carry rice for Burmese soldiers. At that time my aunt was also caught by SPDC. Her husband was shoot died by the soldier. He died at once. The soldiers asked her many questions because they know that her husband was a leader in Karen Organization. Later they raped her and cut off her breast with their knife. At that time my aunt had pregnant too.

When my father escaped being a SPDC potter we couldn't stay there any more. We had to move from place to place. Therefore my brothers and sister didn't have a chance to study. There is no freedom of education.

Even to day many people in inside do not have a chance to study. When they do study, they have to move for place to place. Sometimes they have to study under the trees, sometimes in the jungle. All of this because of there is no security or safety. Last year one school in inside was turreted while the students and teachers were in school, the SPDC came and caught them. Since then they had to stay under the control of SPDC.

So where is the freedom for our Karen people? Now we will think that freedom is not received yet to our Karen people and it is see so far. We will think that we are staying in difficult situation and darkness circumstances. No hope for future to get freedom. But it is stay close to us. Where is freedom to us? It is in our heart. If all of the people in the world have deeply freedom in their hearts, we will have absolutely freedom.

As Rev. Dr Simon said:

    “They call us a displaced people, 
     but praise God; we are not misplaced.
     They say they see no hope for our future, 
     but praise God; our future is as bright as the promises of God.
     They say the life of our people is a misery, 
     but praise God; our life is a mystery.
     For what they say is what they see, 
     and what they see is temporal, but ours is the eternal.
     All because we put ourselves, in the hands of God we trust.”

I hope and have a special dream that one-day all Karen people will be able to work together, to stand up for freedom together, at that time freedom will ring us.

       Let freedom ring the world without border.
       Let freedom ring all people with equal right.
       Let freedom ring the world with civil right.

But we hope that many people are praying for us so one day we will have freedom. Where there is a will, there is a way.

So I can say to all of my Karen people that even though we are full of suffering and faced with difficulties to day, I really stay in the deeps hope that one day our people will rise up and have own freedom. Like our old Karen people proverbs said, "Gourd fruit will sink, stone will float.

"That day the freedom that we want and we have fight for, where many people had to sacrifice will come true. Freedom that stays in our heart will ring us and we will get both physical and spiritual freedom.