Second designation as terrorist group puts KNU in jeopardy
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Phyo/ Thuta Kyaw(NP News)
Kayin National Union (KNU) was declared an unlawful association and terrorist group on August 28.
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the Pro Tem President believes that the objectives and activities of the KNU, its members, organizations formed by it, and individuals associated with it, pose threats and disturbances to the rule of law, the stability and peace of the state, and the tranquility and well-being of the public.
Therefore, the Pro Tem President has declared the above-mentioned group and the organizations formed by it unlawful associations in accordance with the definitions in Section 15, Sub-section 2 and Section 16 of the Unlawful Associations Act, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced.
In addition, the Counter-Terrorism Central Committee, exercising its powers under Section 6, Sub-section (e) and Section 72, Sub-section (b) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, has issued a notification declaring the KNU a terrorist group with the approval of the Union Government office.
The KNU armed insurgent group has been committing acts of terrorism in violation of the Counter-Terrorism Law, that seriously harm public security, lives, property, and infrastructure important to the public or individuals, such as planting mines on public roads and bridges, attacking densely populated towns and villages from a distance with heavy weapons or drop-bombs, killing innocent people, forcibly recruiting new members, and destroying state-owned buildings, vehicles, equipment and supplies, the statement from the Counter-Terrorism Central Committee described.
Therefore, the Counter-Terrorism Central Committee announced that the KNU, which has been committing the above acts of violence, is designated a terrorist group.
Since independence, the group has been engaged in armed conflict. They advanced as far as Yangon but were shattered by the Tatmadaw's offensives, and forced to retreat several times, finally leading to abandoning strongholds in Kayin State, and allowing groups such as the DKBA and the KNU/KNLA Peace Council to secede.
Then, it signed a state-level and a union-level peace agreements in 2012, and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015.
In 2015, the declaration of an unlawful association for the KNU, which had been walking the path of peace, was revoked, but currently, it has turned a blind eye to peace and is cultivating and using PDFs.
After the 2021 political events, the KNU not only provided military training to many young people who would later become known as the PDF, but also recruited them into its armed forces, the KNLA, and trained some other armed groups.
Then, they attacked and controlled parts of the Asian Highway, a key trade route for Myanmar, and launched offensives against Tatmadaw bases on the border. KNU Chairman Saw Kwe Htoo Win himself has even spoken out against the upcoming multi-party general election.
However, the Tatmadaw currently has a military advantage on the ground, and in late July, the Tatmadaw was able to reopen the Kyondo-Kawkareik road, providing relief to the residents of Kawkareik.
The declaration of the KNU as an unlawful association and terrorist group means that KNU Chairman Saw Kwe Htoo Win and another leader, Saw Taw Nee, will be designated as leaders of the terrorist group, according to sources in The Statesman.
Furthermore, military analysts say that now that this has been announced, the Tatmadaw will no longer tolerate the KNU on the ground and will crush them.
“Insurgents who play golf regularly after work can never be brought to the peace table. There is a saying: Only when the rebels are hungry and desperately on the run can they be called to peace. I think they are trying to create this situation. They stop appeasing the rebels and start dragging them to the table by force,” said military analyst Dr. Aung Myo.
He also said that the current situation, with the Tatmadaw carrying out its operation completely and the public abandoning them, could lead to the point of collapse.
“Once they are designated as terrorists, it means there will be no more negotiations, only action. That’s how I would interpret it,’ said a former Tatmadaw officer.
U Thein Tun Oo, executive director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, said that in the past, the military had created a favorable situation that opened the way for political discussions to the KNU.
“Saying there will be no more negotiations simply means that if they do not commit to peace, they will be left to their own fate. In military terms, it means that everything that should be done will be carried out,” he said.
For example, some sources said that Tatmadaw attacks could also aim to weaken the KNU’s stance on the elections, or even pressure it to the point of a serious concession. –