KNU and Civilian Government Mourn Death of Karen Revolutionary Leader 

The Karen National Union (KNU) and the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) expressed sadness about the death of the group’s former vice-chairwoman Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, recognizing her as a revolutionary hero.

Naw Zipporah Sein, 69, died of cancer on Wednesday afternoon at her home in the Thai border town of Mae Sariang.

The country’s oldest armed revolutionary group said she dedicated her life to liberating the Karen people and to serving the community. The KNU said, “may her legacy of courage and commitment continue to inspire us all”.

The NUG said the death of Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein was a loss for the whole country, not only for her community.

The NUG said she was the first leader to declare that the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was void after the 2021 coup and pledged support to the civilian government.

Naw Zipporah Sein led the KNU’s Concerned Group which abandoned the NCA and recognized the NUG, sharing its vision for a federal union.

The daughter of KNU commander-in-chief, General Tamla Baw, she served the organization as a school teacher, women’s rights activist, general secretary and vice-chair.

From 1988 to 2008, she was general secretary of the Karen Women’s Association, dealing with refugee issues.

Naw Zipporah Sein was awarded the Women’s Peace Prize by the Women’s Organization Network in 2014.

Messages of condolences spread on social media.

Saw Kapi, a Karen educational rights advocate, said: “Naw Zipporah Sein’s legacy extends beyond her political achievements. She was an inspiration and a role model for countless Karen women and girls who saw her as a symbol of strength and possibility. Her leadership and courage have left an indelible mark on the Karen struggle for self-determination and principled politics.”

He praised her role ahead of the signing of the 2015 NCA as the head of the KNU delegation in negotiating a ceasefire agreement with Thein Sein’s transitional government.

Her ability to navigate the complex and often treacherous negotiations was a testament to her skill, patience and unyielding commitment to the Karen cause, Saw Kapi added.