Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has expressed its "deep shock, sadness and outrage" at the assassination of the General Secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU), Padoh Mahn Sha, in Thailand on Thursday.

Mahn Sha, one of Burma's most prominent ethnic leaders, was shot dead at his home on the Thai-Burmese border on Wednesday afternoon. It is believed that the murder was ordered by Burma's military regime.

A delegation from CSW had met with Mahn Sha and other KNU leaders in his home just three days earlier, on Monday.

CSW's Advocacy Officer Benedict Rogers said: "I knew Padoh Mahn Sha personally, considered him a friend, and met with him many times.

"His assassination is shocking, and robs Burma and its ethnic nationalities of a wise, courageous, humble, principled leader who has now paid the ultimate sacrifice for his people and their cause.

"He was held in great respect by many people, and was deeply committed to freedom, democracy and human rights for the whole nation of Burma. On behalf of CSW, I wish to express our very deepest condolences to his family and friends, and to all Karen people. We join in their mourning, and hold them in our prayers."

CSW is currently in the region on a fact-finding visit and has obtained fresh evidence of systematic and widespread human rights violations including forced labour, rape and torture.

First-hand testimonies were obtained from Burmese monks who fled as a result of the September crackdown, Shan and Karen internally displaced people and refugees.