An interview with Pado Saw Kalay Say, spokesperson of the Karen National Union (KNU), regarding the military situation within KNU territory following the powerful earthquake and the KNU’s stance on the military council’s temporary ceasefire.
On 28 March, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck, centered near Sagaing and Mandalay in Myanmar, resulting in thousands of people being injured or killed and numerous buildings being destroyed. Many are now facing significant damage and hardship.
Due to the widespread destruction caused by the earthquake, the military council declared a state of emergency in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, northeastern Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw, and Bago Region.
Meanwhile, the junta announced a temporary ceasefire from 2 to 22 April 2 , stating it would enable them to accelerate earthquake relief and rebuilding efforts.
However, even during this period of natural disaster and up to the announcement of the temporary ceasefire, junta forces have continued conducting airstrikes on certain ethnic armed group-controlled areas.
Some territories controlled by the KNU —where intense with fighting junta has been ongoing, have also experienced the impact of the earthquake. In light of these developments, Karen Information Center (KIC) conducted this interview with KNU spokesperson Pado Saw Kalay Say to learn more about the military developments within KNU territory in the aftermath of the quake and the KNU’s position on the junta’s temporary ceasefire.
Q: We’ve heard that the earthquake has also caused damage and casualties in some KNU territories. Which areas have been affected?”
A: We’ve learned that there’s been some damage and loss related to the earthquake in our KNU territories. In particular, there’s been damage and loss in the Nyaunglebin District area.
Q: What’s the military situation between the two sides been like in KNU territory since the earthquake struck on 28 March?
A: Even though there’s earthquake damage, the military council has been struggling and continues to make attempts to reclaim their lost territories. And then there’s an offensive style, you know, like battles where they’re launching attacks. That’s happening in quite a few areas.
Q: This powerful earthquake caused widespread casualties, and during the period when search and rescue efforts are ongoing, groups like the NUG and allied ethnic armed groups, such as the Three Brotherhood Alliance, have announced month-long ceasefires. What’s the KNU’s stance on the military situation?
A: As for the NUG, they have a lot of places where they need to carry out public relief work. Especially in areas like Sagaing, Mandalay, and Magway, where they directly felt the earthquake’s impact, they believe a ceasefire is needed for the work processes they have to do. That’s why they’ve done this ceasefire—that’s how we understand it.
On our KNU side, the areas hit by the earthquake are very few. Since the damage is also little, we understand the military situation stays like this with no change. On the other hand, looking at the military council’s movements, there’s nothing unusual. We see them carrying out things as normal.
Q: During this period when the NUG and ethnic armed groups have temporarily suspended offensives and declared a ceasefire, the military council has continued airstrikes. What’s the KNU’s view on this?
A: We know that the military council is carrying out airstrikes in the territories controlled by resistance groups that have announced a temporary ceasefire. We understand this as an inhumane act.
Q: On the night of 2 April, the military council announced that resistance groups should not attack their military camps or administrative areas and should not gather forces, setting conditions for a ceasefire until 22 April. What’s the KNU’s view on this?
A: At a time when their relief work is really strained, this only has the meaning of easing that. Their real original intention is to keep fighting. They’re only saying they’re stopping the fighting because they’re quite troubled. In the relief part, they have a lot to do. The damage is far worse than expected. I’ve heard even his soldiers’ families were affected. This pushed him into a crisis, prompting the ceasefire. Still, on the ground, if there’s something worth fighting for, he’ll fight.
Q: With KNU territory also facing earthquake damage, how is the KNU carrying out its relief and rescue efforts?
A: Like I said earlier, the situation of earthquake damage in our territory is very minimal, so we don’t have to carry out big relief and rescue work, you know. We have to work based mainly on the reports from township and district responsible people and administrative leaders at the lower levels. But right now, reports from those leaders at the lower levels haven’t come up yet. We have to think and act on this.
Q: Could the military situation create difficulties for carrying out relief and rescue efforts?
A: If the military situation is tense in areas like Sagaing and Mandalay, we know that doing relief and rescue work would be really difficult. On how to make that work as best as possible, our forces have already decided and acted, and announced it—that’s what I want to say.
KIC
