CNI News
5 September 2025
While the State Security and Peace Commission has declared the Karen National Union (KNU) a terrorist organization and an unlawful association, questions are being raised among military and political analysts as to why the Kachin Independence Army/Organization (KIA/KIO) has not received the same designation.
On August 28, 2025, the Commission’s Anti-Terrorism Central Committee formally declared the KNU a terrorist group, and the Ministry of Home Affairs simultaneously declared it an unlawful association.
Although the KIA is not a signatory of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), it still maintains communication channels with the Commission, which could be the reason it has not been designated a terrorist group, Colonel Khun Okkar, Chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO–NCA/S), told CNI News.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and some KNU leaders
“The KIA is not among the NCA signatories, but it was among the groups that drafted the NCA. The KIA has opened a communication channel with the SSPC. Even though fighting continues on one side, because that communication channel remains open, it’s possible that the KIA is not being declared a terrorist group in order to keep it from closing.” he said.
Although the KIA informed the Myanmar Tatmadaw that it was willing to attend peace talks if they were held in Myitkyina, Kachin State, the Tatmadaw has not yet responded, KIA Deputy Commander-in-Chief General Gunmaw told the BBC.
Currently, while the Myanmar Tatmadaw is engaged in battles with the KNU, clashes with the KIA are far more frequent and intense. Moreover, the Tatmadaw has lost many territories to the KIA. This raises questions as to why the government chose to label the KNU — rather than the KIA — as a terrorist group, analysts say.
Lt- Gen Gunmaw, a leader of the KIA
Regarding the elections, the KNU has issued strong oppositional statements rejecting the process, while the KIA has only stated that it will not allow polling stations within its controlled territory. Since the KIA has not explicitly declared that it will sabotage or obstruct the Commission’s planned elections, it may have avoided the terrorist designation, said Sai Htaung Aung, Chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP).
“When asked why, I think it’s because KIA Colonel Naw Bu only said elections cannot be held in their territory. But the KNU went further, strongly denouncing the elections as illegitimate. Their statements were harsher than those of the KIA. That could be one part of the reason. As far as I know, the KIA is skilled at playing both the political and military fronts. They assess the central government’s situation carefully. When the government is weak, they apply military pressure; when the government is strong, they engage in peace talks. The KIA has operated that way across generations.” he said.
The Commission has designated 18 townships across six districts — Myitkyina, Tanai, Chipwi, Bhamo, Putao, and Mohnyin — as constituencies for elections. Among them, Chipwi, Sawlaw, Sumprabum, Mansi, Momauk, and Injanyang are under KIA control.
