Tun Mon Thet (NP News) – May 6

Karen National Union (KNU) released the name list of the Central Executive Committee members on May 5 after the 17th Congress was held. 

Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win becomes the successor of Padoh Saw Mutu Say Poe as the Chair. Padoh Saw Hsar Gay: the current Chairman of Brigade 7 is elected as the Vice-Chairperson while Padoh Saw Tah Doh Moo becomes the Secretary, according to the KNU statement.

Other CEC members involve: Padoh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe (Joint Secretary 1), Padoh Saw Hla Tun (Joint Secretary 2), General Saw Jonny, Brigde-General Saw Tah Malar Thaw, Padoh Naw Da Da, Padoh Saw Taw Nee, Padoh Saw L Kalu Say and Padoh Saw Law El Mu.  

The newly reorganized KNU, as said in the statement, will continue fighting against the ‘Chauvinism’ and ‘Military Dictatorship’, making effort in building federal democratic system; and will continue fight for equality and self-determination for the Kayin people.

The KNU was founded in 1947 before the Independence in 1948. Few months later, the KNU officially launched the armed rebellion, led by British trained Kayin leaders, against the inexperienced, fresh and newly organized Myanmar Central Government. 

The Kayin national leader ‘Saw Ba U Gyi’, who is as well as the first president of the KNU, guided to complete mission of building the ‘Independent Kayin Country’ as the principle of the organization.