Choosing to engage: strategic considerations for the Karen National Union Saw David Taw (2005) Saw David Taw of the Karen National Union (KNU) traces the history of his movement’s intermittent dialogue with the Burmese government. Since 1989, the ruling regime’s strategy has been to agree bilateral ceasefire agreements with various ethnic insurgencies, splitting the anti-government alliance. The KNU experience is one of push-and-pull between a faction of middle-level decision-makers generally more disposed towards a ceasefire agreement and a faction of older ‘hardliners’. A number of factors determine who wins this argument at any given time, including: international influences; pressure from allies opposed to ceasefire talks; the military situation; and factions’ ability to present their case to grassroots supporters. A ceasefire agreement reached in late 2003 held despite the removal by government hardliners of the Prime Minister.
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