The Karen National Union (KNU) has firmly denied false reports being circulated by the military council claiming that General Saw Johnny, the Commander-in-Chief of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), was killed in an aerial bombing. Padoh Saw Taw Nee, who serves as both a Central Executive Committee member and spokesperson for the KNU, confirmed that these reports are entirely fabricated propaganda. The military council simultaneously distributed these false claims through their News of Myanmar (NOM) Telegram channel and other pro-military lobby channels on August 16.
The military council’s fabricated news claimed that during an aerial attack on the KNU headquarters on August 11, General Saw Johnny was killed along with 70 others, followed by the deaths of 30 more wounded individuals the next day. However, Padoh Saw Taw Nee explicitly dismissed these reports as complete falsehoods and pure propaganda. The actual incident occurred on August 10 around 8 PM, when the military council conducted an aerial bombing using a Y-12 aircraft targeting the KNU Brigade 7 headquarters areas of Maw Pay Klo and Thay Bay Hta in Karen State. This attack resulted in the burning of some houses and only one KNLA soldier was wounded by bomb shrapnel.
Military analysts and KNU officials suggest that the military council is deliberately spreading such misinformation to cover up their military losses and attempt to demoralize the public. The current situation on the ground shows intense fighting as the military council forces are launching major offensives to gain control of the Kawkareik-Myawaddy Asia Highway. The KNLA and allied forces continue to defend against these military council advances on the Asia Highway while maintaining their siege of the Waw Lay military strategic camp near the Thai-Myanmar border.
This pattern of spreading false information comes at a time when the military council is facing significant battlefield setbacks. The military council’s strategy of disseminating fabricated news appears to be an attempt to manipulate public perception and hide their military failures. Meanwhile, resistance forces continue their effective operations against military council positions, demonstrating the stark contrast between the military council’s propaganda and the reality on the ground. The ongoing conflict has shown the military council’s increasing reliance on disinformation campaigns as they struggle to maintain control and face mounting losses in various regions across the country.
