At the press conference of the KNU Central Executive Committee held yesterday, the chairman of the Karen National Union’s Disciplinary Committee, Padonadar, said that same-sex marriage in the Kayin area cause to impact on the Kayin culture.
“In July, we heard that same-sex marriage was held. But those who marry are not Kayin race. Those are other ethnic groups. Just like those ethnic groups, acting like this in our Brigade in Karen State cause the impact on the Kayin traditional culture. We cannot accept it. I think it’s an insult to our culture,” said Padonadar, the chairman of the KNU Disciplinary Committee.
In addition to this, according to Section 238 of the Criminal Code, he committed a violation of the law against the order of nature. If committed, the punishment will be up to 5 years in prison.
“LGBT rights fall under the broad category of human rights. KNU territory has been fighting with successive governments for more than 70 years. Even though we have been put in place by the administration, considering all of our living and traditional practices, we have not yet been able to educate our people, especially LGPT rights, and our community organizations do not accept it,” the General Secretary of the Karen National Association, Pado Sawtado said.
“The application of different human rights needs to not harm the public and the environment, and KNU respects the use of individual rights, but due to the use of individual rights, it is necessary not to disturb the society with different customs,” he said.
After posting on the Facebook account of a former student leader Ko Paing Ye Thu that he had married two men according to their consent in July, a notice was sent to the office of the Southern Region Military Sub-Division No.3, with the signature of Saw Moe Edo, the secretary of the Brigade 6 Dupalaya District of the Karen National Association.