KNLA Hopes to unite Karen armed groups

The Karen National New Year is expected to bring together all the different Karen armed forces, according to Pado Mahn Mahn, a spokesperson for the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) 5th Brigade.

“Our first goal for the Karen Liberation Army is to be able to unite these disparate armed groups. The second goal is to help the oppressed Karen people, especially to unite our fellow ethnics,” said Pado Mahn Mahn.

There are a lot of different Karen army groups such as the KNLA, the Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO) which are both under the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karen State Border Guard Force (BGF), the Democratic Karen Army (DKBA) and the Karen Peace Council (KNU/ KNLA-PC).

On January 13, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) hopes to unite these disparate Karen armed forces, in order to fulfil its national defense and security responsibilities. The Karen National New Year will serve as a unifying moment. 

Although every member of the Karen Armed Forces adheres to the principles of the Karen martyr ,Saw Ba Oo Gyi, there are many groups, making unity difficult. 

Many Karen youth do identify more so, with the KNLA. 

The Karen people celebrated their New Year on January 13 in Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago Divisions and within Karen State.

In 1937, the Karen national leader called for a unified celebration of the Karen National New Year, which was approved by parliament.

The Karen New Year is celebrated annually in various regions and states and has been a national holiday since before Burma’s independence.