An interview with Brig-Gen Saw Nerdah Bo Mya, Chief of Staff of the Kaw Thoo Lei Army
July 21st, 2022
The Kaw Thoo Lei Army led by Brig-Gen Saw Nerdah Bo Mya was formed on July 17th. It will not be under the control of the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO).
It is a separate organization which will revolutionize the dictatorship. However, it will join hands in the armed resistance against the military dictatorship in cooperation with any anti-military organizations including the KNLA and the KNDO, until the fall of the military dictatorship. The NMG interviewed Brig-Gen Saw Nerdah Bo Mya about the main purpose of forming the Kaw Thoo Lei Army, whether the formation of the Kaw Thoo Lei Army is a splinter group of the KNU and the difficulties among Karen armed organizations due to the emergence of an armed organization.
Q: Why was the Kaw Thoo Lei Army formed?
A: The formation of Kaw Thoo Lei Army is aimed at ensuring the betterment of the federal army. Although those involved in politics make mistakes, we aim to make a back-up and to ensure the smooth operations in the fight against the enemy.
Q: Will the newly-formed Kaw Thoo Lei Army operate under the KNLA or separately?
A: It is a separate organization. We aim to cooperate and collaborate in fighting. We cannot fight as some KNU leaders are closely working with the military council at present. It may cause a hindrance to the future processes. It is not a split. The formation of the army under the new name aims to ensure the smooth functioning of fighting. We will join hands with the anti-dictatorship groups. We will cooperate with the KNLA or the KNDO. It is not a difficulty. We aim to do our work effectively.
Q: Can it be said that the Kaw Thoo Lei Army is an army which splits from the KNU?
A: The formation of the Kaw Thoo Lei Army aims to see political change among our leaders. According to the KNU’s policy, the KNU will hold the election every four years. The KNU cannot hold the election for six years. No one takes responsibility for holding the election. I think some people have fallen into the different deceptions of the enemy due to the current path. The newly-formed army aims to ensure the smooth functioning of work and join hands with the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) or the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) which are working to overthrow the military council. But we will not join hands with the organizations which are cooperating with our enemy.
Q: Is your army not under the KNU, is it?
A: Yes. At present, we are not under the KNU.
Q: Can it be said that this is a split of the Karen armed groups as it is not under the KNU?
A: It is not the split of the armed groups. We aim to do our work collectively. We aim to fight against the enemy after the reintegration of the DKBA, the Peace Council (PC) and other groups.
Q: So, do you mean that you will join hands with the Karen armed organizations—the KNLA and the KNDO?
A: We all must join hands with each other. We formed the Kaw Thoo Lei Army to do our work. We aim to merge all groups as a single organization when our Kaw Thoo Lei State or country will emerge. This is the Kaw Thoo Lei Army. This is the Kaw Thoo Lei state. The army is the Kaw Thoo Lei Army. All matters will be convenient after talks and discussions at the meetings. This is not the difficulty. We don’t aim to split. We have thoughtful knowledge. We are not the ones who make a mess. We don’t shoot our races by joining hand with our enemy. We aim to go ahead and get more improvements based on the circumstance.
Q: How do you respond to criticism over the formation of the army?
A: Some people have different views over this change. However, it is a progress. The people view it as a changing situation. We have never harmed our races throughout the decades-long revolution. We always work for our race in politics, social community and fighting. We don’t want to make the enemy happy. Anybody can monitor our future work. We aim to have more understanding among us along with integration. We are not like the churls. We all need to collectively make integration under a single umbrella. In politics, it can open a channel for achieving the political goals aspired by the entire Karen nationals. This is not for splitting. I would like to inform the public and the leaders about it.
Q: May I know the Kaw Thoo Lei Army’s political roadmap and stance?
A: We have not adopted the political roadmap yet. We will discuss it step by step after the overthrow of the military council.
Q: What kind of difficulty do you face in the circle of the KNDO due to the formation of the Kaw Thoo Lei Army?
A: The difficulty is the KNU dismissed me over the killings of 25 people. The selection of Brig-Gen Saw Shee Lay makes it difficult to go ahead. There are a lot of leaders and colleagues. We cannot sit idle due to it. The formation of the army aims to continue our work and destroy our enemy. We stand upright. For our race, we will join hands with the groups which will fight against the enemy. We aim to re-correct the people who join hands with the enemy for work and business. Joining hands with the enemy will make it difficult to go ahead. If it continues, our races will be the slaves.
Q: What are the territory areas of the Kaw Thoo Lei Army? How does the army designate the brigade, battalion and territory?
A: It is the next step. We will do it step by step. I cannot say it now.
Sent by the NMG