Karen Armed Group Leaders Attend Junta-Led Peace Forum in Southeastern Myanmar
A junta-led peace conference attended by several ethnic Karen armed group leaders was held on September 26 and 27 in Hpa-An, the capital of Karen (Kayin) State in southeastern Myanmar, according to state-controlled media.
Held at Zwekapin Hall, the Kayin State Peace and Development Forum 2026 focused on ending local armed conflicts, post-conflict reconstruction, and economic revival in the region.
“Peace and development should not be seen as separate issues when building the future of Karen State,” said junta-appointed Chief Minister Saw Myint Oo during the opening session. “Peace is not just about ending armed conflicts; it also means creating an environment where people can work together with trust and respect.”
Discussions on the second day shifted toward technology, artificial intelligence (AI) implementation, and cybersecurity.
The military regime’s formal negotiation arm, the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC), also participated on the final day.
Attendees included junta officials alongside current and former leaders from several Karen factional groups.
Among them was former Karen National Union (KNU) Chairman Saw Mutu Say Poe, who spoke on the humanitarian impact of the ongoing civil war.
“After the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was signed, things became much easier for a long time,” Saw Mutu Say Poe said. “But now, because of the fighting, homes are destroyed and travel is dangerous. People are suffering badly, making peace urgently needed to ease these livelihood struggles.”
Other prominent figures in attendance included Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) Commander-in-Chief Gen. Saw Shwe Wah, as well as Vice Chairwoman Naw Kapaw Htoo and General Secretary Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the KNU/KNLA-Peace Council, a splinter faction currently maintaining a ceasefire with the junta.
Several attendees belong to the newly formed Karen National Peacebuilding Committee (KNPC), which agreed in early September to engage with the junta-appointed state administration on peace dialogue and humanitarian aid for displaced civilians.
However, state media avoided referencing the KNPC by name, instead describing the delegates as “peace representatives” and “NCA signatories.”
