Tonight we learned that our friend P'Doh Mahn Shar, General Secretary of the
Karen National Union (KNU), was murdered in Mae Sot, Thailand. We do not yet
know the details but we want to pass on our sorrow and sympathy to his family.
We are very sad that someone would kill him and we hope that the perpetrators
are brought to justice. We learned this news while we are on a relief mission
in the Karen State, to try to help those attacked and displaced by the dictatorship
of Burma.
All around us here are people who know of terror and murder first hand. P'Doh
Mahn Shar is not the first to be senselessly murdered. His murder will not be
the last, unless people of good will all over the world help to bring change
to Burma.
Even though P'Doh Mahn Shar has been killed, his memory lives on and his acts
of kindness, resolve and tireless work for the freedom of his Karen people and
for all those oppressed in Burma lives on. He is missed, but the work he dedicated
his life to; freedom, justice, self determination, and reconciliation, and a
Burma where all live in dignity will go on. We will always feel the loss of
this leader who worked for a democratic Burma, but all of those who love freedom
and justice will continue on inspired by his stand .
His family, friends and the KNU have our prayers and love at this time.
God bless you,
The Free Burma Rangers
(Sent directly from Karen State, Burma)
The Free Burma Ranger’s (FBR) mission is to provide hope, help and
love to internally displaced people inside Burma, regardless of ethnicity
or religion. Using a network of indigenous field teams, FBR reports on human
rights abuses, casualties and the humanitarian needs of people who are under
the oppression of the Burma Army. FBR provides medical, spiritual and educational
resources for IDP communities as they struggle to survive Burmese military
attacks.
