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Dear Mr. Chairman:

Karen National Union, New Mon State Party Hongsawatoi Restoration Party,National Democratic Front, Ethnic Nationalities Council National
Reconciliation Program, United Nationalities League for Democracy
National Council of Union of Burma

The attack on the Hongsawatoi Restoration Party (HRP) by the Karen National Union (KNU) and the All Burma Muslim Union (ABMU) on the 18th of September in which 5 innocent children and 2 members of the HRP were killed requires immediate attention. The attackers indiscriminately gunned down 5 children despite shouts from the adults, the parents, not to kill them. The Mon Unity League is concerned that the brutal nature of such an attack, the >intentional trapping and the killing of innocent children may escalate existing tensions in the area, such as that occurred between the Mon the Karen in 1988, and request that the National Democratic Front (NDF), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), and the Karen National Union (KNU) immediately begin a full investigation into events leading up to the attack, regarding the reasons for it and bring to account those responsible for it.
We also urge the respective parties to give serious consideration to
the following concerns:

1). The killing of innocent children and deliberate attacks on women
and unarmed civilians should not happen under any circumstances and is
widely condemned by Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, and the international community.

2). It therefore follows that those responsible, including those
connected to the guilty parties, must fully explain to the Mon community, who are shocked by this incident, both at home and abroad, the context under which this attack occurred; in particular what they (the attackers) hoped to achieve by killing the children and brutally attacking women. We call upon all parties involved to implement justice for the victims and, categorically, those responsible must not escape impunity, as is so often the case in armed conflict.

3). Regardless of political and personal claims behind the attack, the
victims have the right to receive full legal and financial compensation for medical treatment incurred from the attack and loss of life from the responsible parties.

4). This latest incident by the KNU's is a familiar hard-line attack characteristic of the Burmese junta, and is clearly part of a wider strategy to crush HRP and is an unacceptable military offensive against a much smaller group among insurgent groups on the Thai-Burma border. Furthermore, it highlights the complete disregard for civil law and
order so rampant in Burma, and in particular is a crime against humanity and warrants immediate condemnation.

5). This incident should be a wake up call for all parties in the
region to put an end to impunity, which has prevailed for decades and, on a much more a broader front, attacks of this nature undermines our commitment to achieve 'National Reconciliation'. Targeting civilians and gunning down innocent people will further divide the nation and is the major stumbling block to negotiations. In addition, the KNU's attack is a blatant betrayal of not only the Mon people, but has repercussions that affect the whole country. There must be a solution, war is not an option, and social justice must prevail.

6).Leaders of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the New Mon State
Party (NMSP), and the Karen National Union (KNU) are urged to work together, in this respect get more fully involved in the democratic process and find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

We also like to take the opportunity to urge all parties to respect
the rights of children, women and unarmed civilians during armed conflict. These rights promote peace, stability, security, and human rights in our motherland.

Yours Sincerely,
Nai Damrong Pungbangkadee
President Mon Unity League
P.O. Box 11
Ratburana
Bangkok 10140,
Thailand
Email: mul@anet.net.th

CC: UNHCR, Bangkok Thai Human Rights Commission Senator Kraisak
Chunawan, Human Rights Watch / Asia Forum-Asia