The Karenni National Progressive Party did not blast the Lawpita-Taungoo electric cable line, in 2009, which had been distributing electricity from Karenni State to Yangon, according to General Secretary of KNPP, Khu Oo Reh.
On January 26, the state-run media mentioned that the Lawpita-Taungoo power cable line had been destroyed with a mine-bomb by the Karen National Union and KNPP.
"It did not happen. They have rewritten old news, something which happened last year. They are using it as propaganda. They are trying to attract public opinion by regenerating news from old occurrences. I do not know exactly. I have already told the concerned department that the incident took place last year,” Khu Oo Reh said.
When the KNU and KNPP members ambushed the Burmese Army on July 30, 2008, the electricity tower post number 206, near Yardo village, Lektho Township, in Hpa-an district in Karen State, was attacked. The tower number 206, was located in Lawpita-Taungoo (230 KVA) power cable line, which distributed electricity to Yangon.
Khu Oo Reh said that it might be a strategy of the military junta to try and make people think of the rebels as destroyers because electricity is often cut off in Yangon, as a result of destruction caused by the rebels.
"It can be the reason they are trying to erase people's complaints. Therefore, they are creating new information from an old event. The other reason can be that they are trying to make people see us as destroyers. Another reason might be that electricity is often cut off in Yangon. People have complained to the government. To erase these complaints, the SPDC may be systematically creating panic," Khu Oo Reh said.
When asked about the matter, the KNU, an armed group said that they had not done it this year.
A local news journal mentioned that the Yangon Electricity Serving Bureau had announced it would distribute electricity as normal in the Yangon municipal area, within a few days.
"We do not like what they have done because our people do not get any benefit from it. The electric power cable line was passing through our state and our people have to take care of it but our people do not get any electricity. Our people are forced to work for them. As a result, our people have many difficulties. Therefore, it can be said that we were trying to destroy it. We do not get anything from it, even if it is generating electricity in our state," said Khu Oo Reh.
There are five million people living in Yangon. According to government statistics, the demand for electricity is 450 MW (Mega Watts) daily, but the government distributes only 385 MW per day.
