The recent U.S. action targeting the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and its top leaders for their alleged involvement in online financial fraud schemes targeting American citizens is a “blanket accusation,” DKBA Commander-in-Chief Saw Sein Win said.
On November 12, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against the DKBA and senior leaders—Saw Steel, Saing Kyaw Hla, Saw Sein Win, and Saw San Aung—for their alleged involvement in online financial fraud operations.
Commander-in-Chief Saw Sein Win told IMNA that although some individuals may have been involved, sanctioning the entire organization amounts to treating everyone the same with a “blanket accusation.”
“What I want to say is this: regarding our group’s interactions with the junta, it’s hard to explain the situation now. This may be turning into another arena of competition between superpowers like China and the United States. There may be individuals from our group involved in such businesses, but treating the whole organization as guilty feels like sweeping everything up with one long bamboo pole—that’s how I interpret it,” he said.
He added that the DKBA has been cooperating with relevant authorities to help reduce online scam operations along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Reports have linked the DKBA to the establishment of scam centers—including KK Park—through collaboration with Chinese criminal groups based in Thailand, such as Trans Asia International Holding Group and Troth Star Company Limited.
Saw Sein Win said that if there is doubt about the DKBA’s activities, they are open to inspections.
“Regarding the online scam, they are accusing me, but I am clean. I am just an ordinary farmer. If they think I’m involved because I take part in political discussions on behalf of the group, that’s their interpretation. From my side, I am completely clean. If they don’t believe it and want to inspect, we will take them wherever they want to see,” he said.
On May 5, 2025, the U.S. also sanctioned Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) leader Major General Saw Chit Thu and his two sons, Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit, designating them as part of a transnational criminal organization.
