"Today, our Karen brothers and sisters around the world mark the lunar new year of 2761. In a different year this would be a time for celebration with songs and dances, sticky rice, displays of sports, and most importantly, gatherings of the communities in a spirit of brotherhood and love to hope for a prosperous future. This year, however, there has been no time to set up community events in many places. No time to rehearse songs or dances, nor time to prepare traditional foods and clear sporting grounds. Throughout Karen State, the vibrant sights and sounds of celebrations have been muffled while the Karen people stand by to defend themselves against the junta’s relentless attacks. The Karen have faced persecution for years, for decades at the hands of a genocidal military. Their struggle for peace, freedom, and prosperity has in many ways borne the torch for the many different Myanmar groups and identities who have risen up against the brutal and abusive military either before the coup or since it. All people of Myanmar owe a great debt to the heroes and martyrs of the Karen, and their continued efforts to push back the junta, and deny the military their dream of a totalitarian dictatorship is an inspiration to all our brave brothers and sisters around the nation fighting for justice and victory. We hope and pray that in this new year, our Karen brothers and sisters and indeed ALL the people of Myanmar will, for the first time in our history, truly know the peace, prosperity, and freedom of federal, self-determining democracy. May God bless you all!..."