The Karen ethnic story at Day Bu Nu village by Thomas Htoo.
Day Bu Nu is a village along the Yunsaline (PweLo) River that is north of Papun Town and is under Kawthoolei KNU (Karen National Union) Governance. It is currently also under air attack by the Burmese Military. (Right now, this air raid spread in many other areas of Kawthoolei as well)
Papun Town in Mu Traw district, Kawthoolei, is indeed currently governed by both the Burmese military and the KNU. This town, Papun, was once a headquarter of the Karen resistance against Burmese Government, and a capital city of Kawthoolei. However, as the Burmese Military launch a full-scale assault to crush the resistance and independence movement in 1954 in Kawthoolei area, Papun has been captured by the Burmese Military, along with many other cities and towns that were once under the Kawthoolei KNU Governance. In my personal point of view, the reason Kawthoolei’s armed groups KNLA/KNDO has not retaliated and recaptured the fallen cities and towns was because those plan will result in civilian casualties, the damage of civilian properties and livelihoods, and the possibility of the loss of innocent lives. In the 72 years old conflict of fighting against the Burmese Military regime, not only did the Kawthoolei KNU Government refrain from harming innocent civilians, but also provided them with protection and service. Majority of the Kawthoolei KNU leaders do not have advanced knowledge or education in politics and diplomacy but they are doing the best they can to govern and maintain what is left of the Karen Revolution.
The Karen Revolution started on January 31, 1949, in order to reclaim and protect the self-determination of the Karen people and to be free from the Burmese Military brutality and oppression. In order to promote self determination and acquire international help, Saw Ba U Gyi founded the Kawthoolei Government which is very different from the Burma(Myanmar) Military and Government. The goal of the Karen Revolution is to create and safeguard Kawthoolei, a country where Karen people and other nationalities can live in peace and harmony. The Karen revolution inspired many revolutionary movements in other parts of Burma as well.
In the 72 years old conflict, the Burmese military unsuccessfully tried to crush the revolutionary movements using heavy artillery, air power, and naval power. Their attacks are non-stop in the areas that they don’t have full control over and where the revolutionary movements are active. In the Rule of War and Law of Engagement, civilian population, civilians’ properties, and public facilities that are not used for military purposes should not be the target of any armed groups. The Burmese military completely disregarded this international guideline, and for 70+ years, they terrorized, oppressed, and treated the civilians and the properties of civilians as the targets for their military offensives.
Kawthoolei KNU Government, with limited funds, weapons, and little international support stood against this evil which is the Burmese Military/Burmese Government, and abided by the International Rule of War and Law of Engagement. Today, March 27, 2021, as the Kawthoolei KNLA recaptured one of the Burmese military outposts that is in Kawthoolei KNU Controlled Area, the Burmese Military responded with an air attack on a civilian-populated village of Day Bu Nu. There are civilian casualties and damage of civilian properties. Even more than that, the civilians in many area of Kawthoolei are on the run for their lives again, hiding, and forced to continue living in fear.
What the international community can do is to recognize Kawthoolei as a sovereign nation, independent from Burma/Myanmar. The Kawthoolei KNU Government revolutionary movement along with its allied forces, need financial support, air support, and naval support to defeat this evil that is the Burmese Military. International recognition of a free and independent Kawthoolei would allow many countries and international organizations to engage with Kawthoolei KNU Government directly and openly.
If all the revolutionary movement is crushed and defeated, the fate of Burma/Myanmar as totalitarian dictatorship is sealed, therefore the time for the international community to act is NOW.