The Karen National Union (KNU) Central Executive Committee announced on 5 May that it will form an independent and impartial investigation team regarding allegations that some KNU leaders are involved in criminal enterprises in the Mae Htaw Talay area.
On 23 February, the entire KNU Executive Committee was asked to resign after failing to take action against Padoh Saw Roger Khin and some other KNU leaders allegedly involved in the Chinese new town project in the Mae Htaw Talay area, where 68 Karen groups are conducting illegal business. On 26 February, the Executive Committee rejected the accusation as false, but widespread criticism of KNU leaders has not died down.
During the 17th Congress of the KNU, the newly formed Central Executive Committee stated that it rejects such writings and criticism of KNU leaders, and that an independent and impartial investigation team would be formed under the leadership of the KNU Central Executive Committee and the probe will be conducted in accordance with KNU policy and rules to find out the truth in the matter.
“We haven’t started the investigation yet because the follow-up of the congress has not been completed. There have been some necessary inquiries about the case, but we will only be able to investigate it through an investigation team when the follow-up of the congress is completed,” Padoh Saw Kale Say, a member of the executive committee, told Karen Information Center.
The KNU said in the statement that it will provide certain information during the investigation, if necessary, and that action will be taken if any violations are found.
“We will provide updates as necessary on how we are proceeding with the investigation team and what we have found,” Padoh Saw Kale Say added.
The statement clarified that the KNU is no longer associated with the project involving Mu La Ei Ahlin, which had already withdrawn from the the project in the Mae Htaw Talay area since December 2022. Additionally, it emphasized that KK Park, which has ties to Chinese criminal gangs, is not affiliated with the KNU.
The misunderstandings towards Padoh Saw Roger Khin and some KNU leaders were caused by the fact that the signboard reading “Signing and Groundbreaking Ceremony for Cooperation Between KNU and Huanya International Holdings Group” was put up at the time when the former KNU central executive made his statement in February, the statement said.
Similarly, Padoh Saw Roger Khin clarified on the organization’s social media page on 12 March that he only attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new town project as a witness on behalf of local landowners.
Saw Thu Kabee, spokesperson for Karen civil society organizations, told the Karen Information Center that the matter had become questionable because the executive committee had not issued a clarification despite Padoh Saw Roger Khin bringing the matter to the committee’s attention. Current committee member Padoh Saw Kale Say said that the investigation team was established because it had become necessary to resolve the controversies.
Padoh Saw Roger Khin said in his clarification that the new town project in Mae Htaw Talay will be carried out jointly by Trans Asia Company, which is officially registered in Thailand, and Mu La Ei Ahlin Company, which is officially registered in Myanmar; that they will operate 48 types of businesses; that not all 48 types of businesses will be operated at the same time, but initially only four or five of them; that these businesses will include trade in agricultural products, construction materials, and hotel and tourism.
Sent by KIC.