Chiang Mai – The Karenni Nationalities Progressive Party (KNPP) has denied rumours that it plans to negotiate an 'arms for peace' agreement with the Burmese military junta.

The KNPP denial followed news dong the rounds five days ago that the KNPP led by Chief-of –Staff Be Htu would exchange arms for peace with the junta.

"We are not doing any such thing," Khu Re, Party Secretary, told Mizzima.

"The SPDC (the Burmese military junta) is in the habit of floating such whispering campaigns. It informed all its units and got them to disseminate the fabricated news for the consumption of local people. They are always up to such tricks. We have information about it," he added.

The Karenni State Army, the KNPP's armed wing, also made a similar announcement on September 5 to counter SPDC's propaganda.

"We made the announcement to counter the SPDC's propaganda and to clarify what is being said," Khu Re said.

The statement added that the KNPP has informed all the people and all Karenni social organizations that it will relentlessly continue its anti-junta struggle till self-determination of the Karenni people is achieved, gaining national freedom and achieving the revolutionary goal with a revolutionary war.