More than 100 Karen from various communities across Europe have met to discuss the political situation in Burma and called for renewed efforts to achieve peace and increased aid to Karen refugees,
The network welcomed the recent cease-fire agreement between the Burmese government and the Karen National Union, but it said that based on recent history it is still very cautious about the situation in Karen State and other ethnic areas.
European Governments and the international community focus too much on the small positive changes in central Burma and prematurely reduce pressure against the dictatorship while human rights situation in ethnic areas is getting worse,” said an executive member of Karen Community Norway. “We have been suffering human rights abuses for decades".