Karennis Say Surrender on 23 July a Staged One

Karennis Say Surrender on 23 July a Staged One

The Karenni resistance said on Friday that the surrender in Loikaw on 23 July as publicized by the military junta was a political ploy. 

The statement issued by the Karenni National Progressive Party accused the State Peace and Development Council of "trying to make a bag out of a pinch". 

The New Light of Myanmar reported on 24 July of "a ceremony to mark exchange of arms for peace" held in Loikow, the capital of "Kayah State", and presided by General Khin Nyunt in his capacity as Chairman of Work Committee or Development of Border Areas and National Races. A total 113 members of "Kayinni National Development Party of Hoya Region" led by "Commander U Goeri" was reported to have" returned to the legal fold". 

The Karenni statement held that the said members were mostly civilians who fled into Thailand years ago. They wanted to return to their home villages and persuaded some of the fighters from the Karenni Army to escort them, and to be safe from the junta's prosecution, they decided to masquerade themselves as members of the resistance and negotiated for surrender, according to the statement. 

Saw Doh Say, Deputy-Director of the Karenni Foreign Office, told S.H.A.N. only two of the fighters went along with the people who returned home. 

The Karenni have been fighting for independence since 1948, the year the British left Burma.