An Interview with Aung San Myint, Second Secretary of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)
Questions about the activities in 2022
The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) is an Ethnic Revolutionary Organization (ERO) that works with the National Unity Government (NUG) and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) through its representatives. U Aung San Myint, the second secretary of the KNPP, was interviewed to learn more about what they have done in 2022, how they are working with the Spring Revolution forces, and what their plans are for the future.
Q: How is the KNPP currently working with other resistance groups?
A: After the military coup, we took a bigger role in this armed revolution with local resistance groups made up of youth. But we formed the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC) after the coup to represent the country as a whole. So there are our representatives in the consultative body. We work together for political reasons. In addition, our KNPP representatives are directly involved in the NUG and the NUCC. There is also cooperation in formulating necessary future federal principles between the two sides. In this regard, we work with 12 ethnic armed organizations (EAOs). Politically and militarily, we’re also working closely with some Kachin, Karen, Karenni, and Chin groups. This is our regional political situation.
Q: What important changes did the KNPP make after the military coup?
A: Our organization isn’t the same as before the coup. We have developed our organization. We have also worked on formulating strategies and guidelines for the creation of the future federal democratic union.
Q: What do you want to do in 2023?
A: We’re working not only with local actors, the NUG, the NUCC, and ethnic alliance armed organizations, but also with international organizations. It’s been a long time since we have worked with international organizations. It’s not that the KNPP has only recently started working with them. We have been building such a relationship for a long time. We’re trying to accelerate it in order to provide humanitarian aid quickly and sufficiently to the people who are in need today. This is about our international relations. Another thing is military cooperation, especially with the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the Karenni Army (KA). We fight alongside their forces. We also cooperate with other local People’s Defense Forces (PDFs). That means we’re working with all the forces fighting in this revolution. That’s what we have recently done that on the ground.
Q: What else would you like to add?
A: As in the past, the regular activities of the government departments are no longer working. So we need to re-evaluate the situation in education, health care and public administration and think how we can work with other actors in these areas. The most important thing is that we build mutual trust and have the will to work together. Then we can complete this revolution more quickly. That’s it.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times.