“Demand for independent inquiry”

Narinjara News, August 2, 2025 

The military council has claimed that the Karen National Union (KNU) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) murdered 13 people, including children, and wounded 15 others during fighting that took place in Lapat village, Kyaukgyi Township, Bago Region, on July 25.

The accusations were roundly denounced in a statement released today, August 1, by the Karen National Union (KNU) Central Committee.

In a statement headlined "A Clarification on the Military Council's fabricated and false news report on the Lapat Village Incident," the KNU Central Committee issued the following statement.

"The claims of the military council-controlled media and their war lobbies about the brutal killing of 13 civilians and the injury of 15 others are completely baseless and are a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and the international community," the statement read.

In the conflict that occurred in and around the region on July 25, a total of 32 enemy soldiers, comprising 18 military council soldiers and 14 Pyu Saw Htee, were killed, according to the KNU announcement.

In retaliation for the killings, the military council launched indiscriminate air attacks and heavy weapons strikes, putting more citizens at risk.

The KNU and allied forces suffered fatalities and injuries as a result of small arms and heavy weaponry assaulting the military council reinforcements from the Ledo (Kyauk Gyi) side.

According to the statement, the victims were left behind and then the enemy (military council) seized the survivors and carried out the murders themselves.

These atrocities were confirmed to have been perpetrated by the military council forces through field investigations conducted by the Karen National Union.

The statement also reiterated the Karen National Union's dedication to truth and civilian protection, as well as its strong condemnation of the false junta news and demand for an impartial investigation.