KNU Appoints New Commander

The commander of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 5, Brig-Gen Baw Kyaw Heh, has been appointed as acting commander-in-chief of the KNLA following the dismissal of Gen Mutu Say Poe on Wednesday, according to sources close to the Karen rebels.

Standing beneath Martyrs Day decorations at a jungle base in KNLA Brigade 5 in 2009, Brig-Gen Baw Kyaw Heh addresses an audience. (PHOTO: Saw Yan Naing/ THE IRRAWADDY)

The KNLA’s political wing, the Karen National Union (KNU), dismissed Mutu Say Poe by letter along with two central committee members, David Taw and Roger Khin, for repeatedly violating KNU protocol, according to KNU official Say Say who added that an official appointment will be made during the next regular military meeting.

KNU joint-secretary 2, Daw Lay Mu, will reportedly take over David Taw’s position in the Justice Department.

KNU sources said that the letter dismissing Mutu Say Poe, David Taw and Roger Khin was signed by joint-secretary 1 Hla Ngwe and 10 other central committee members.

Mutu Say Poe led a faction of the KNU last week to Karen State capital Pa-an where they allegedly opened a liaison office in collusion with the Burmese government without informing the KNU central committee.

KNU sources said that Mutu Say Poe and his followers have ignored several meetings called by the central committee which is currently led by General-Secretary Zipporah Sein.