Myanmar military labels ethnic rebels as terrorists amid election threats

In Myanmar, the military government has made the significant decision to label the Karen National Union (KNU) a terrorist organization. This declaration was made on a Thursday, in the lead-up to national elections scheduled to start on December 28, 2025. The KNU, a prominent ethnic rebel group based in Myanmar's southeastern region, has been struggling for greater autonomy since the country gained independence from British colonial rule in 1948. They have engaged in ongoing conflicts against the military government since the military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in early 2021. The military's designation of the KNU as a terrorist organization effectively criminalizes any interaction with the group and raises serious concerns regarding civil liberties and potential human rights violations during this tense period. Following this announcement, a KNU spokesperson asserted that the group would continue its operations regardless of the government's label, highlighting the military’s own allegations for causing losses to public security and essential infrastructure. With the military already under scrutiny by international tribunals and faced with fierce criticism regarding the legitimacy of the upcoming elections, the KNU and other opposition organizations have vowed to disrupt the electoral process, intensifying fears of violence and further unrest. The military government has enacted strict election laws that impose heavy penalties, including the death penalty, for those who oppose or attempt to disrupt the elections. This move has exacerbated already heightened tensions, as various opposition groups believe that the dissolution of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, which won decisively in the 2020 elections, undermines the elections' legitimacy. The civilian population and diverse ethnic groups have been caught in the crossfire, leading to civil unrest and an ongoing civil war that has engulfed Myanmar since the military coup. The KNU has also been actively preparing young activists in urban areas in basic warfare tactics, aiming to strengthen their resistance against the military government. Amid heightened military-led warnings against possible election disruptions, the KNU remains undeterred, signaling a potential for escalated conflict. As the elections approach, the situation in Myanmar appears increasingly volatile, raising international concerns over the humanitarian ramifications of the deteriorating civil and military relations, especially with the looming threat of military crackdowns on dissenting voices.