Media Release From European Karen Network

For immediate release 30th December 2010

SECOND EUROPEAN KAREN CONFERENCE WAS HELD SUCCESSFULLY

A Europe-wide Karen conference was held successfully on 28-29 December 2010 in

Nyborg, Denmark.

This is the second time a European Karen Conference, organised by the European Karen
Network, has been held in Europe. Karen communities from five countries; Germany,
Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom, participated in the meeting.

The purpose of this meeting is to organise Karen communities in Europe to support the
struggle for freedom in Burma.

Various issues related to the Karen people were discussed during the meeting including,
the need to strengthen Karen communities across Europe, how to influence governments
in countries where there are Karen communities, and improve cooperation with other
exiled ethnic groups from Burma.

As the November 2010 elections in Burma did not bring change that the Karen and all the
people in Burma want, EKN believes that through inclusive dialogue and the
establishment of a federal democratic Burma, we can move forward towards real freedom
that guarantees positive change and equality for all the people in Burma. EKN would like
to welcome other Karen communities around the world to work together for the
development of the Karen people.

EKN calls on the European Union and the United Nations to redouble its efforts to
pressure the dictatorship in Burma to enter into negotiations with ethnic forces, and
democracy forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, through tripartite dialogue. The EU
and UN should take the issue of the Karen and other ethnic groups more seriously and
bring them into Burma’s political process.
European Karen Network was set up in July 2009 with the aim to raise awareness about
the situation of the Karen people of Burma, and Burma as a whole. We are the voice in
Europe of the Karen struggle for freedom. We pressure European governments and the
rest of the international community to do more to bring about democratic transition in
Burma.

For more information please contact:

European Time
Naw Tar Eh Shee (Norway): +47 94824532
Saw John (Denmark): +45 50147756
Mahn Aung Lwin (Germany): +49 1752433418
Nant Zoya Phan (UK): + 44 7738630139

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Note to the editor:

Karen New Year celebration is taking place on 30th December 2010 following the
European Karen Conference and it is organised by the Karen Community Denmark.