non-state armed groups in karenni

The civil war in Karenni state began as a bi-partisan struggle between the government and separatist groups but later disintegrated into a multi-faceted struggle and a situation of generalised violence although despite factional fighting, most of the conflict still occurs between the separatist opposition and the Burmese government and groups allied to it. In 1978, a faction of the KNPP broke away and formed the Karenni National People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF), over an ideological split on the issue of receiving assistance from the Communist Party of Burma. This split became violent and weakened opportunities for unified resistance against the central government. There are currently various other splinter groups operational in Karenni state, split on ideological, separatist and political issues, including the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP), the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Shan State Nationalities Liberation Organisation (SSNLO). The KNPP remains the primary force in Karenni fighting for self-determination for the state and is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation.