More than 10,000 ethnic Karen reportedly marched in protest in Hpapun district in late December, demanding that the Tatmadaw withdraw its troops from the area and halt construction work on a controversial road.

That’s a huge turnout and in the past year or so it’s only been matched by a similar protest in northern Shan State (which is more heavily populated) after the Tatmadaw allegedly shot and killed an unarmed civilian. The demonstrations continued in January, with over 1,000 people from 30 villages gathering again according to the Salween Peace Park organisation.

Armed engagements have occurred in the Mae Wai area of Hpapun district, part of the territory controlled by the KNU’s Division No. 5, because the Myanmar military has refused to withdraw troops from the area as required by NCA

The statement from the Karen Youth Movement called on the civilian government and the international community to take action to stop the Tatmadaw from attacking civilians, deploying troops outside of its territory, and constructing the new road.

Military tensions have also grown between the Tatmadaw and the Karen National Union (KNU) in Thaton District in the post-election period according to locals.

The Tatmadaw is carrying out military activities in cooperation with the BGF militia in the Tatmahar-1 Region in Thaton District of the KNU. (The Karen National Union) that signed a ceasefire agreement with government forces in the time of the Thein Sen government.

There were clashes in early January . A local who preferred not to give his name said: “Some locals have fled to safer places for a while due to the fighting during this month. Now the situation is stable. But the situation has not reached a safe level. Most houses in the village are digging trenches. We don’t dare to go outside as usual. I don’t know whether or not the situation is stable.”

Phado Saw Soe Myint, Secretary of the KNU Thaton District said: “The military activities by the Tatmadaw and the BGF, at the beginning of this year have raised the fears of locals. Tatmadaw troops have expanded military operations in Myitkyo."

The statement called on the Karen National Union, the civilian government and the international community to take action to stop the Tatmadaw from attacking civilians, deploying troops outside of its territory, , and constructing the new road. It’s the latest sign of deepening tensions between the Tatmadaw and Brigade 5 of the Karen National Liberation Army, which have clashed repeatedly in the area since the start of December.

Meanwhile, the Karen Human Rights Group angrily condemned “in the strongest terms” the “forced removal” of a statue of Karen nationalist icon Saw Ba Oo Gyi from a village in Ayeyarwady Region previously reported by BNI.

The rights group condemned the fact that these forced removals are happening “in parallel” with the forced installment of statues of Bamar independence icon Aung San, despite widespread resistance in ethnic areas.