Maui Pho Thaike, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), said that to defeat the military all resistance groups in Karenni State must form a “United Karenni State Army.”
“If we want to topple the junta in Karenni State, the first thing we need to do is unite. The second is to use our resources strategically. Right now, Karenni State collects around seven billion kyat in taxes every month, and about four billion of that goes to defense. But when we split this money between the KNDF, the Karenni Army, and others, there are inefficiencies. It would be far more effective if we managed it under a single system,” Maui said during a speech at the Karenni Deeku Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Sept. 28..
He added that if resistance groups across Karenni and southern Shan states unite and operate as a single force, resources could be used more efficiently. Maui said that the public should support the unification of all Karenni groups such as the Karenni Army, the Karenni National People’s Liberation Front, the Karenni National Peace and Development Party, and the Karenni National Solidarity Organization.
“Our goal is to merge all Karenni resistance groups under one leadership to fight the evil junta, but we know there will be many difficulties and challenges,” Maui said.
Fighting between Karenni resistance and regime forces are underway along the main highway connecting Demoso to Hpruso townships. Regime forces recaptured Demoso from the Karenni resistance on Aug. 19.
“Right now, our region is facing deep hardship. The public must not accept this as the new normal. Only if the hunger for revolution remains alive in our minds and hearts can we continue this harsh journey. So, I urge you to keep sharpening and nurturing the revolutionary spirit. We cannot accept our village homes being bombed again and again as the new normal,” Maui concluded.
A regime counteroffensive is underway in Mobye (Mongpai) town in southern Shan, near to Karenni. Pro-regime forces, including the Pa-O National Army (PNA), are conducting operations in Salong (South) village of Pekon Township, also located in southern Shan.
BNI
