Kayan National Army / KNA
Independent ethnic Kayan armed groups fighting the regime in Loikaw, Demoso, Moebye, Pekon and other Kayan areas merged on Oct. 29 to form the Kayan National Army (KNA). It has eight battalions.
The Kayan are a subgroup of Karenni people who mainly live in western Kayah (Karenni) State, southern Shan State, around Thandaunggyi Township in Karen State, and Pyinmana Township in Naypyitaw.
In a future federal democratic union, the KNA aims to form a Kayan state consisting of those four areas. It recognizes the civilian National Unity Government as the union authority and said it will partner with any organization fighting the regime in putting an end to the military dictatorship in Myanmar.
Reactions have been mixed, since there is already a Kayan political party with an armed wing fighting for self-determination, and there are many armed groups in Karenni State.
Khun Saungdu, the KNA spokesman and one of the 14 members of the KNA’s leading committee, recently talked to The Irrawaddy about its objectives and potential military operations.
Why was the KNA formed, and which organization took the lead?
The KNA is formed by young Kayan people. There have been many [Kayan] organizations on the ground over the past three years of the Spring Revolution. The KNA aims to gather these revolutionary groups scattered across the region.
We took part in the revolution in various ways over the past three years, but our efforts were not appreciated. It has been barely mentioned that we ethnic Kayan people are also doing our bit for the revolution, and young Kayan people are unhappy with that. We are one of the ethnic groups in the union, and are determined to fight the military dictatorship together with other ethnic groups.
Does the KNA have any tie with the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP)?
The KNA is not a splinter group from the KNLP, and we will only engage in military activities for the time being. Our ultimate goal is to end the military dictatorship.
How did the KNLP respond to your group’s stated objective of forming a Kayan State?
They are a large ethnic revolutionary organization established some 60 years ago. They have their own policies and they won’t interfere with us. We are pursuing our own policies.
What is your response to criticism that there are too many competing armed groups in Karenni State?
There are many other groups representing their races. We formed the KNA to unify the Kayan people. We don’t have a plan to distort the image of other revolutionary groups or sow discord. Many groups formed by people of the same race have also unified, which I think is a good sign. And we have stated that we recognize the union government, so I don’t think there is a need to worry.
Where will the KNA mainly operate?
For now, we will mainly conduct military operations in major Kayan settlements including the west of Karenni State, the west of Loikaw, Demoso, Pekon, and Pinlaung townships in southern Shan State, the north of Thandaunggyi Township in Karen State, and the mountains east of Pyinmana Township in Naypyitaw.
We will cooperate with any organization fighting the military regime.
Why did the KNA’s statement have national objectives?
The national objectives represent the KNA’s policies. They may become the objectives of the entire Kayan people in the future, and for now we have adopted policies as an army representing them. But in the future, we will abide by policies and principles adopted according to the wishes of the Kayan people.
Some Kayan battalions were not included in the KNA. What were the challenges in forming it?
Not many. Over the past three years, some [ethnically Kayan] groups have gathered as People’s Defense Forces under the NUG’s Defense Ministry, so we can’t force them to join us. We don’t force or rally battalions important to the NUG. But many organizations have not joined the union government in our Kayan areas, and we have gathered them together.
The KNA represents the entire Kayan people, and we will listen to them. Our policy is that we come from the people, and we must go back to the people. So I don’t think there are problems.
What is your response to criticism and questions about the formation of the KNA?
Many have asked why we formed this organization only now, more than three years after the coup. But there were already suggestions that we should be unified. We just took time to materialize them. We believe it is time for Kayan groups to work together in unity under a single chain of command, and we formed this army after consulting with community elders.
Some asked whether we are concerned about conflicts with other organizations and ethnic revolutionary organizations. We are working for unity, and we try to avoid friction either on the ground or on social media. We will try to build a network with many other organizations.
