He joined the KNU in 1949, became general secretary in 1984 and was appointed chairman in 2000.

He will be succeeded by Tamla Baw, vice-chairman of the KNU and the former chief commander of the KNU’s military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, according to a statement by the KNU headquarters on Thursday.

David Takapaw, a KNU spokesperson, said the death of Saw Ba Thin Sein was a great loss for the Karen people, who have been fighting for autonomy for more than 50 years, but it will not affect KNU policies.

Naw Khine Mar Kyaw Zaw, a KNU member who worked closely with Saw Ba Thin Sein, said, “He joined the Karen revolution because of seeing the Karen people oppressed by the Burmese army.”

She said Saw Ba Thin Sein struggled with divisions among the Karen people and particularly the breakaway armed group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

“He said our people support us. But, we [the leaders] have different political viewpoints, and we are not united. Some leaders have radical ideas about religion.”

 

After the DKBA split from the KNU, Saw Ba Thin Sein always urged Karen to be united, saying disarray among the people and divisions between leaders would only prolong the independence struggle.

 

“He wanted Karen people to live in unity,” she said. “He didn’t like injustices. He was an industrious revolutionary. He also had deep empathy for other ethnic nationalities.”

 

Saw Ba Thin Sein was born in 1927 in Henzada in Irrawaddy Division. He studied at the American Baptist Mission High School in Henzada. He worked as a clerk at the war office in Rangoon until 1946. He became a member of the KNU central committee in 1963 and was appointed education minister.

He is survived by his wife, Naw Ohn Myaing, three daughters and one son.

A memorial service will be held at the KNLA’s 7th Brigade in Pa-an District in Karen State at a date to be announced.