In Three Pagodas Township of Kayin State’s Kyainseikgyi District, local residents have collectively erected a commemorative sign honoring the 80th birthday of public leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The sign, prominently displayed in the town center, bears a message calling for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. This act represents a bold statement of public sentiment under military rule, demonstrating the continued support for democratic leadership despite the ongoing oppression.
Three Pagodas Township exists in a unique state of governance. The military maintains only a minimal presence on a nearby hillside, unable or unwilling to venture into the town proper. The police station and General Administration Department have effectively ceased to function. Instead, the area is under the control of various ethnic armed organizations, including the Karen National Union (KNU), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and Border Guard Force (BGF). The military council’s administrative mechanism has completely broken down, rendering them unable to exercise any meaningful control over the area.
Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a central executive committee member of the Karen National Union (KNU), made significant revelations during an interview in September 2023. He explained that due to the collapse of the military council’s administrative system in Three Pagodas Township, the KNU has implemented its own administrative and judicial systems. This transition occurred in response to local residents’ requests, and the KNU now operates in coordination with other armed groups in the area to maintain administrative functions. The situation represents a clear example of how local governance has shifted away from military control to more community-supported administrative structures in certain regions of Myanmar.
