On April 17, 2020, the Karen State Security and Border Affairs Ministry sent a letter to the Karen National Union (KNU) headquarters and Liaison offices opposing their response to the Covid-19 crisis.
KNU’s Brigade 1 is stopping individuals and measuring their body temperatures, as part of the strategy to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. These actions are taking place on the Thein Seik-Pain Nay Thaw-Lay Kay highway in Thon-Poe-Kyi village in Thaton Township, Mon State.
According to the Karen State Ministry for Security and Border Affairs, seven members from the KNU Brigade 1 Battalion (2) led by Commander Saw Chit Thu, were taking these actions on the highway since 5 a.m. on April 15. Travelers were only allowed to travel into the Brigade 1controlled-area between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The Karen State government opposes these measures. According to the State Minister for Security and Border Affairs, Col. Myo Min Naung, “the KNU needs to follow the agreement of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and to control its forces, and not to intervene in border administrative matters.”
According to the South Eastern Command instructions, travelers should follow the COVID-19 containment rules issued by respective departments including, avoiding unnecessary travel, staying home, and refraining from gathering in crowds.
The Dooplaya District Secretary, Padoh Saw Liz Tan, also released emergency rules that everyone must follow in an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. According to a Dooplaya District Facebook post dated April 13th, failure to comply will result in fines of up to 150,000 Kyats or imprisonment for 45 days.
