Nail in the coffin of Myanmar’s dying peace process

CHIANG MAI – There was a frustrating fait accompli to the recent statement by Myanmar’s oldest ethnic insurgents, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), on December 1 when it demanded the withdrawal of all Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, bases from its territory.

This was the culmination of over two years of rising frustration and bellicose public statements against what the KNLA sees as Tatmadaw expansionism. Fighting between the two sides resumed soon after the statement, and over the last two weeks there have been several clashes with numerous casualties.

The KNLA, and its political wing, the Karen National Union (KNU) blame a gradual buildup of Tatmadaw units in Hpapun Township, where a controversial road-building project has fueled instability and numerous armed incidents, and the displacement of civilians and a number of killings.

The Tatmadaw claims…