Padoh Saw Taw Nee, Central Executive Committee member and spokesperson for the Karen National Union (KNU), has dismissed the military council’s designation of KNU as a terrorist organization, describing it as a case of ‘a thief accusing others.’ The statement comes after Min Aung Hlaing, who has declared himself interim president, announced the KNU as an unlawful association on August 28.
The military council accused the KNU of disrupting the rule of law, national stability, and public peace, declaring it an unlawful association under Section 16 of the Unlawful Associations Act. Additionally, the military council’s Counter-Terrorism Central Committee further designated the KNU as a terrorist group. The council claims that the KNU has been involved in activities threatening security, property, infrastructure, and state-owned facilities. The military council has accused the KNU of conducting artillery attacks, dropping bombs, and forced recruitment.
Padoh Saw Taw Nee characterized the military council’s accusations as completely false, pointing out that the real perpetrators of terrorism are the military council themselves. He emphasized that this is evidenced by the ongoing cases against the military council and its leaders for war crimes at international courts including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and courts in Argentina. The KNU spokesperson stated that the military council’s declarations do not warrant any attention, describing them as baseless propaganda.
Furthermore, the KNU has officially declared its complete rejection of the military council’s planned elections, stating they lack legitimacy. The KNU continues to fight for democracy, equality, and self-determination for the people of Myanmar, maintaining its strong stance in the people’s revolution against the military dictatorship. The organization remains committed to its role in the broader struggle for democratic transition and the complete elimination of military authoritarianism in Myanmar.
