This month the country’s oldest ethnic armed organization held its delayed 17th congress to elect new leadership, including new chairman Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win.
The 17th Congress of the Karen National Union (KNU), resulted in the election of its leaders, the KNU Executive Committee members and the leaders of the 12 central departments. The KNU Executive Committee comprises of 11 members, namely: Padoh Saw Eh Kler Say, Padoh Saw Tony, Padoh Naw Dah Dah, Padoh Saw Law Eh Moo, Brigadier General Saw Tamala Thaw, General Saw Johnny, as
Some Karen National Union officials have questioned the alleged involvement of the group in the notorious China-backed crime hub KK Park in Karen State.
Some 5,000 villagers have crossed the border and about 10,000 are displaced in the area as the regime intensifies its offensives near the Thai border in Karen State.
KNU ‘Suspends’ Its Membership Of Ethnic Alliance Cites Differences In ‘Policy And Structure’
The Karen National Union has confirmed the suspension of its membership with the ethnic alliance due to disagreement over the policies and structure of the alliance group.
The KNU submitted its official letter to the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an ethnic alliance group that the KNU has been a core member. The letter was handed in on the third day of the UNFC 1st Congress.
In an interview with Karen News, Padoh Kwe Htoo Win, the general secretary of the KNU and who was among the representative attending the UNFC’s congress, denied media reports that the KNU withdrew from the alliance.