The Karenni Army (Burmese: ကရင်နီပြည် တပ်မတော်; abbreviated KA) is the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and operates in eastern Kayah State (also known as Karenni State), Myanmar (Burma).[8][9]
| Karenni Army | |
|---|---|
| ကရင်နီပြည် တပ်မတော် | |
 Flag of the Karenni Army | |
| Leaders | Khu Oo Reh[1] Khun Abel Tweed Khu Plu Reh Aung San Myint Khu Thaw Reh Est |
| Dates of operation | 1957[1] – present |
| Headquarters | TeLeh Duhso (Nya Moe), Hsotashar Township, Karenni State[2] |
| Active regions | Karenni State Myanmar-Thailand border |
| Ideology | Karenni nationalism |
| Size | 8,000[3] |
| Part of | Karenni National Progressive Party |
| Allies | 4K Coalition:[4][5]
Other Allies: |
| Opponents | State opponents:
Non-state opponents:
|
| Battles and wars | Internal conflict in Myanmar |
On 7 March 2012, the government of Myanmar signed a ceasefire agreement with the KNPP, in the presence of international observers from the UN High Commission for Refugees, British Council. and the American embassy.[10] A similar ceasefire deal was signed in 1995, but it was dissolved within three months.[10]
History
editThe British government recognised and guaranteed the independence of the Karenni States in a treaty with the Burmese King Mindon Min in 1875, by which both parties recognised the area as belonging to neither to the Konbaung dynasty (Kingdom of Burma) nor to the British Empire. Consequently, the Karenni States were never fully incorporated into British Burma. The Karenni States were recognised as tributary to British Burma in 1892, when their rulers agreed to accept a stipend from the British government.[11]
The Constitution of the Union of Burma in 1947 proclaimed that the three Karenni States be united into a single constituent state of the union, called Karenni State. It also gave the possibility of secession from the union after 10 years if the state's leaders were not satisfied with the central government. In August 1948, the Karenni leader U Bee Htu Re was assassinated by a pro-central government militia for his opposition to the inclusion of the Karenni States in the Union of Burma.[11]
Since 1957,[1] the Karenni Army has been fighting government forces in an attempt to create an independent Karenni state, apart from a brief ceasefire in 1995.[9] The KNPP have also fought left-wing groups such as the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP), and the Karenni National People's Liberation Front (KNPLF), both of which are now allied with the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces). The group has been accused of using child soldiers, a claim that they have not denied, saying that the children had volunteered willingly, because their parents had been killed during fighting between the KA and government soldiers.[8]
Violence between Karenni rebels and the Tatmadaw escalated in May 2021. Beginning on 21 May 2021, the Karenni Army, along with their newly constituted ally the Karenni People's Defense Force, engaged in battles with the Tatmadaw across several towns in Kayah State, leaving dozens dead.[12][13][14]
Flags
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References
edit- ^ a b c "KNPP". www.mmpeacemonitor.org. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ Murray, Lucy. "Karenni rebels dig in for last stand". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 26 March 2005.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Khin, Aung; Aung, Nyan Lin (9 December 2021). "ကရင်နီကာကွယ်ရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့". Voice of America (in Burmese). Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Intense clash in Mese, Karenni State". Democratic Voice of Burma (in Burmese). 20 June 2023.
- ^ "The 4K, the clash in Mese, and the military movement of Karenni State". People's Spring (in Burmese). 20 June 2023.
- ^ "Chin National Front Signs Deal with Myanmar's Shadow Govt". The Irrawaddy. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ J, Esther (10 November 2023). "After attacking military target in Karenni State, KNDF and KNPLF announce launch of 'Operation 1107'". Myanmar Now. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Child Soldiers in Non-State Armed Groups". Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ a b Karenni Army (KA) (Myanmar), GROUPS - ASIA - ACTIVE
- ^ a b "Burma: Government, Rebels Sign Ceasefire". UCA News. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Karenni Independence Through Education". Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
- ^ "Ethnic Army and Civilian Forces Battle Myanmar Regime in Kayah State". 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "Three Junta Troops Killed in Clashes with Karenni Resistance Fighters". 22 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "Myanmar rebels claim police killings as Aung San Suu Kyi appears in court". TheGuardian.com. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.