CNI News
8 November 2025
The Chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO-NCA/S), Colonel Khun Okkar, told CNI News that the KIA is not a group that will disrupt the election.
In a speech on the occasion of the 65th Founding Anniversary of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) on October 25, 2025, General N'Ban La said that the way to beautifully end the battles and military situation is through political discussion and consultation.
He also noted that the upcoming election would see two opposing groups emerge—those who support it and those who oppose it—which could make discussion difficult and prolong the internal conflict.
Colonel Khun Okkar's View:
Because some Kachin political parties will participate in the upcoming election, the KIO/KIA will never oppose its own people. Therefore, it is unlikely to be a group that will disrupt the election, said Colonel Khun Okkar.
Caption: The NUG and the Chin Brotherhood
Colonel Khun Okkar stated to CNI News, "There are Kachin political parties. About two or three parties. Just as there is a Lisu party, there is a party led by Tuja from the Kachin State side. Since there are such parties, if the KIO says it opposes the election, it would have to oppose the political parties led by its former KIO members. They will never oppose each other. That is clear. The Kachin political parties running in the election can freely participate. Disrupting the election would be like disrupting the rights and political opportunities of the Kachin political parties. The KIO will not do that. However, other armed groups and Spring Revolution groups are demanding that the election must be disrupted, which we see as interference in other people's national affairs. That is why the KIO is not an organization that will disrupt the election. But I also do not think he will allow other forces to disrupt the election within KIO territory."
Military and political observers are speculating that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Myanmar Tatmadaw (military) may meet in November or December, before Phase 1 of the election scheduled for December 28, 2025.
KIO/KIA Chairman General N'Ban La stated on October 25, 2025, that the KIO is continuously contemplating and seeking solutions for peace for the entire country and all ethnic organizations during this political transition.
Caption: While the Yaw Army and KIA leader Lt-Gen Gun Maw were meeting in Laiza
Sai Htay Aung, Chairman of the Tai Leng(Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), told CNI News that the KIO/KIA's failure to publicly oppose the election, despite having many revolutionary forces under its command, indicates political shrewdness and fear of being declared a terrorist organization, like the KNU.
He said, "Colonel Naw Bu also said in the past that there would be no election in KIO-controlled areas. His shrewdness is about this issue. There are many revolutionary forces on the KIA side. There are many in the Hpakant region now. There are over twenty thousand PDFs. We also hear about conflicts. Since the revolutionary forces have to rely on the KIA's supplies, if the KIA were to take a firm stand with the revolutionary forces and speak out decisively against the election, it is very afraid of being declared a terrorist organization like the KNU. Its strategy is to sit on the fence, supporting both sides. It will not speak out unilaterally to destroy the election by firmly standing with the revolutionary forces."
Since the KIO/KIA appears to be opening a path for dialogue and peace, military and political observers are questioning whether the revolutionary forces under its command share the same view as the KIO/KIA.
The KIA has proposed to the State Security and Peace Commission to hold a ceasefire meeting in Myitkyina, but the Tatmadaw prefers to meet in Mongla or Kengtung.
Therefore, while there is a plan for a meeting between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA, the meeting location has not yet been decided.
