The Interim Executive Council (IEC) of Karenni State hopes to administer eight townships to build a federal democratic state that the rest of Myanmar can emulate. The IEC Chairperson Khu Oo Reh made an annual speech on Thursday to mark the achievements of the provisional government that was officially established on June 12, 2023.
“We have included three representatives from resistance forces in the formation of township administrative councils which has 7-9 members,” said Khu Oo Reh.
Karenni townships are administered by both civilians and resistance leaders in Hpruso, Shadaw, Mese, Demoso, and some areas of southern Karenni’s Hpasawng and Loikaw, the state capital.
“Our funds come from taxes, the National Unity Government, and the Karenni [diaspora],” said Khu Oo Reh.
He added that the IEC has received 8.3 billion kyat ($3,025,108 USD) total. It has allocated 6.18 billion kyat to administer the four townships that it controls and the two townships that are contested, where fighting between Karenni resistance forces and the military has been ongoing following the nationwide uprising against the 2021 military coup.
The regime has deployed troops in southern Shan State to retake Loikaw. There are 350,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Karenni State, according to the IEC. Karenni resistance forces have gained control of eight towns since it launched Operation 1111 on Nov. 11.
