The declaration of martial law will not be a significant change in Karenni State, but rather a formal killing power handed over to the Military Council, Karenni revolutionary forces criticized.
On February 2nd, a day after the second anniversary of the coup, the Junta Regime head Senior General Min Aung Hlaing declared martial law in a total of 37 townships in 4 divisions and 4 states in Myanmar.
However, the revolutionary groups said that there will not be any significant changes in the townships of Karenni State where martial law has been declared.
"We can say that their announcement will not have any effect on us. This is just one of their predictable methods. Even without declaring martial law, they have already committed all kinds of crimes. Even a few days ago, they killed a civilian who was going back to his house to get some belongings. Then they cut his throat to disguise as a murder due to some kind of enmity. So, their declaration of martial law will not make any difference to us”, a spokesperson for the People's Defense Forces (PDF) in Demoso Township said.
He added that since before martial law was declared, the Military Council used to torture and kill civilians in the villages where they camped and the villages where they conducted operations in Demoso Township. The spokesperson also considered that the declaration of martial law is no more than the official permission to kill.
In Karenni State, the Military Council has declared martial law in Demoso, Hpruso, Bawlakhe and Shadaw townships. All of these 4 townships are territories where the Military Council lost control, the revolutionary forces said.
Because the revolutionary forces effectively control those 4 townships, the Military Council often shells the areas day and night arbitrarily, locals said.
When asked about the opinion of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), which has the strongest armed forces in Karenni State and controls large areas, regarding the declaration of martial law, the information officer said “I think it is too early to comment on this matter. But even if they declare martial law, it is unlikely that the situation will change drastically. Since before, they have been killing the Karenni people day and night without law and order. We have nothing to comment regarding the martial law they announced”.
Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) Second Secretary U Aung Myint San also told the press that the declaration of martial law reflects the Military Council's lack of territorial control.
Even though the situation in Karenni State has not changed significantly with the declaration of martial law, the revolutionary forces are keeping a watchful eye on what kind of offensive the Military Council will take.
