Brotherhood Alliance lauds establishment of Karenni governing body

By Admin 12 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 June 2023, Sittwe

The Brotherhood Alliance has welcomed the establishment of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC), calling the council a new step forward in the revolution against the Myanmar military.

The IEC has emerged as the administrative body of the Karenni people for Kayah (Karenni) State in addition to the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC), which was formed on April 9, 2021, just over two months after the military coup.

“Karenni people have bravely taken another step by forming [the IEC] to match the pace of the revolution,” reads the joint message sent Monday by the Brotherhood Alliance, which consists of the Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army.

In its statement, the IEC said it aims to try for the stable functioning of legislative, administrative and judicial branches as an interim government for Karenni State, and to cooperate with various like-minded forces in the state.

It will also provide public services such as education, healthcare services, food and other basic necessities.

IEC chairman Khu Oo Reh told a press conference on Monday: “We have formed the IEC to systematically carry out the administrative [functions], rule of law and justice system necessary for a federal, democratic state, in response to the current landscape of revolution and for the people and the Union.”

The IEC is initially formed of six senior members, and will consist of at least 12 departments.

Karenni people including the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) have been fighting the regime since the February 2021 coup, with the formation of the IEC marking an escalation of its anti-junta stance.

The Brotherhood Alliance has maintained warm ties with the KNDF, and has supplied weapons, ammunition and other types of military assistance to the Karenni armed group.