The Karen National Union (KNU) has recently made headlines due to the deteriorating situation in Myawaddy, adding pressure on the military generals who seized power in a 2021 coup in Myanmar. The KNU, a political organization with an armed wing known as the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), has been engaged in conflict with the military junta following the coup. The escalating tensions in Myawaddy have further highlighted the ongoing struggle for power and autonomy in the region.
The Karen National Union, founded in 1947, is one of the oldest ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. It has been fighting for greater autonomy and rights for the Karen people, an ethnic minority group in the country. The KNU has a long history of armed resistance against the central government and has been involved in various peace negotiations and conflicts over the years. The organization's armed wing, the KNLA, has been active in the Karen State and has played a significant role in the region's political landscape.