Armed group in Karen State declares independence from Myanmar

The Kawthoolei Army (KTLA), a Karen National Union (KNU) splinter group, stated that it has established an independent republic in territory under its control in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, on Monday.

It added that KTLA chief-of-staff Nerdah Mya, who is the son of former KNU leader Bo Mya, is the new president of the “independent Kawthoolei Republic” on Jan. 5, which marked the 78th Karen Independence Day from Britain.

The KTLA is an anti-military militia that split from the KNU in 2022 after its armed wings, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO), dismissed Nerdah Mya from his position as KNDO chief-of-staff on July 20, 2022. Three days before his dismissal Nerdah Mya established the KTLA.

Its headquarters is located in Sukali village in Myawaddy along the Myanmar-Thailand border, opposite Thailand’s Tak Province, and 81 miles (130 km) east of the Karen State capital Hpa-An.