The Karen National Union (KNU) has strongly dismissed the recent declaration of independence by the The Kawthoolei Army (KTLA) saying it has no legitimacy and does not represent the Karen people, while academics describe the move as a publicity-driven attempt to attract international attention.
On Jan 7, 2026, Padoh Saw Taw Nee, spokesperson of the Karen National Union, gave an interview to Transborder News that Ner Dah Mya, leader of the KTLA and son of late KNU chairman Gen Bo Mya, does not represent the KNU or the Karen people in any capacity.
“He represents no territory and no people. This is nonsense,” the KNU spokesperson said. “At a time when the KNU is engaged in armed struggle to liberate our people from Myanmar’s military dictatorship, we want the Thai public to understand clearly that the situation in Karen State is about resisting military rule — not about such declarations.”
KNU spokeperson said the announcement of an independent Kawthoolei state had no relevance to the Karen struggle and offered no benefit to the people.
“He claims to have established a state and a cabinet, but there is no administrative system, no governance structure whatsoever. The KNU controls more than 1,000 kilometres of the border, and it is clear that this group has nothing to do with us,” he said.
Asked whether the declaration had caused confusion, the KNU spokesperson said the organisation has fought for freedom and self-determination for decades and cannot simply declare a state in such a manner.
“This is deeply embarrassing. We do not even want to talk about it,” he said, adding that the KNU continues to prioritise cooperation with other ethnic groups to free the Karen people from military dictatorship.
When questioned about the symbolic weight of the declaration, given that Ner Dah Mya is the son of a former KNU leader, Padoh Saw Taw Nee said Ner Dah Mya had left the KNU three years ago and no longer had any connection to the organisation.
“Whatever his group does has nothing to do with the Karen people,” he said.
The KNU, he added, has no intention of formally discussing the matter.
“We do not give this any importance. Those who truly understand the situation know what we are doing. As for the foreign supporters he claims to have, one must ask: what exactly are they supporting him to do?”
The spokeperson said the KNU views the move as “ridiculous”, noting that KTLA lacks territory, a civilian population and an administrative system.
“This is not the first time. It has happened two or three times already. He is not our representative,” he said.
Kridsana Chotisut, a lecturer in Center of ASEAN Community Studies
Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University, said that since splitting from the KNU, Ner Dah Mya has led a separate armed group opposing Myanmar’s military, but the KTLA has largely faded from Myanmar’s political landscape.
“While he may retain some support in limited areas, we do not see broad territorial control, nor do we see clear laws or administrative regulations,” Mr Krissana said. “Declaring a self-governing state at this point is a major leap.”
He said the move appeared aimed at generating international attention rather than reflecting political reality, noting that the announcement coincided with international news about the United States’ arrest of Venezuela’s president.
“I see this primarily as an attempt to engage international organisations. To declare a Kawthoolei state, there must be clearly defined territory and institutions, which we have not seen from the KTLA at all,” he said.
Assoc Prof Dulyapak Preecharush of Thammasat University, said the KTLA employed what he described as a strategy of an “imagined sub-state within a greater imagined state”.
“The KTLA controls very limited territory, but declares a small state nested within Karen State, while invoking ‘Kawthoolei’ — a term that represents a vast, aspirational homeland for the Karen people,” he said.
He added that the KTLA had been effective in terms of public relations.
“The name ‘Kawthoolei’ resonates deeply as a dreamland of the Karen struggle. By publicly declaring an independent Kawthoolei, the KTLA gained significant media attention,” he said. “This also raises questions for the KNU, which has pursued a federal model rather than outright independence. When the KTLA declared independence in the name of Kawthoolei, it naturally attracted far more media coverage.”
On Jan 5, 2026, Ner Da Mya and the KTLA marked the third anniversary of the group’s founding by formally declaring independence from Myanmar and proclaiming the establishment of the “Republic of Kawthoolei”, with Ner Dah Mya naming himself president.
This is a translation of original Thai article https://transbordernews.in.th/home/?p=44840
