The Karen Armed Group Unity Committee held a mass meeting with the local people in the Karen National Union’s Brigade (7)-controlled area in Hpa-an District on March 10 and discussed reunification among the Karen armed groups, said Manh Aung Pyi Soe, chairman of the Karen National Democratic Party.

Present at the meeting were KNU chairman General Saw Mutu Say Poe, Colonel Saw Hsan Aung of Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Karen National Union / Karen National Liberation Army- Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) chairman General Saw Htawt Lay and Colonel Saw Chit Thu of the Karen Border Guard Force.  

“The aim of holding the meeting was to seek advice and questions from the local people for the sake of regional peace. That’s all,” said Manh Aung Pyi Soe. 

He added that one question was about whether there is any reunification plan among the Karen ethnic armed groups because there was a single armed group.

“We have met with the local people two times. Karen New Year Day was celebrated by gathering the armed groups and the people. There is more openness and intimacy. It is the beginning of our reunification,” he explained.

He quoted the committee as saying that solutions need to be sought as the armed groups still have different ideologies.

 “The people want reunion and unity. But as you know, different groups emerged different times. Then it was the DKBA that split first. When a border guard force was formed, some joined it while some did not,” Manh Aung Pyi Soe commented.

He said the committee also admitted that without unity, peace efforts were hampered as the people pointed out in the mass meeting. 

The first meeting between the committee and the local people took place on November 11, 2022.