Karenni State Interim Parliament
When the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC) was formed to lead the political role in Karenni State left vacant by the terrorist junta's coup on February 1, 2021, representatives elected in 2020 joined as the parliamentary bloc. To enable representatives who were not cooperating with the terrorist junta to continue taking part, a "Legislative Committee" was included in the Karenni State interim arrangement. Because the powers given to the committee fall within one of the three pillars of the state, the KSCC proposed renaming it the "Karenni State Interim Parliament", and with agreement in principle it announced on August 24, 2023, that it would stand as the "Karenni State Interim Parliament" (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=240675132362260&set=a.195751356854638). The parliament was initially formed with 15 representatives who won the 2020 election, with U Htay Aung as chair (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=240675112362262&set=pb.100092593235157.-2207520000).
When the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC) was formed to lead the political role in Karenni State left vacant by the terrorist junta's coup on February 1, 2021, representatives elected in 2020 joined as the parliamentary bloc. To enable representatives who were not cooperating with the terrorist junta to continue taking part, a "Legislative Committee" was included in the Karenni State interim arrangement.
Because the powers given to the committee fall within one of the three pillars of the state, the KSCC proposed renaming it the "Karenni State Interim Parliament", and with agreement in principle it announced on August 24, 2023, that it would stand as the "Karenni State Interim Parliament" (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=240675132362260&set=a.195751356854638) . The parliament was initially formed with 15 representatives who won the 2020 election, with U Htay Aung as chair (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=240675112362262&set=pb.100092593235157.-2207520000) .
The parliament has set five programmes (https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/402927562_240675105695596_4215636615744376206_n.jpg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=dd5e9f&_nc_ohc=jYfdH5oHx2YAX9G_s38&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&cb_e2o_trans=t&oh=00_AfAxtPenEojjTgy0-s7ntZNWOK4IrDUmupzgrvPQPHjNBQ&oe=65DD372B) and stands for ending dictatorship, national equality, the flourishing of democracy and building a genuine federal democratic union.
Under the interim arrangement, the parliament began work to enact the laws needed by the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC).
The Karenni State Interim Parliament held a regular session on December 5, 2023, attended by 14 of its 15 members. At that session, it formed an 11-member Public Affairs Committee and a nine-member Public Finance Oversight Committee (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=659028859735843&set=a.536887995283264) . The draft Police Department Law and Interim Judiciary Law, read and submitted to parliament by the Bill Drafting and Vetting Committee, were also approved.
The "Karenni State Police Department Law" (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=251030824660024&set=a.195751356854638), enacted under the Karenni State interim arrangement, aims for the state police department to operate as a high-capacity force with strong public participation in security and the rule of law, to provide people-centred services together with local residents, and to prevent crime.
The "Karenni State Interim Judiciary Law" (https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/408121352_251034277993012_2045382891113590324_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=dd5e9f&_nc_ohc=R5MGryHTamsAX-vobVl&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&cb_e2o_trans=t&oh=00_AfC-zWIKEAROSgJ3eEe4QB-HxQ1vEPVHYkX9uKuYCdfrrQ&oe=65DE653C) was also enacted. The law states that the judiciary is independent and must adjudicate on the basis of five principles (https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/408099001_251034431326330_1558477101845835008_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=dd5e9f&_nc_ohc=KlZc1HwAdIgAX8K-3WV&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&cb_e2o_trans=t&oh=00_AfCjvQ0AxWJVmuAPFucXH_Sx9AgKiv08UfSfXGJem22kzg&oe=65DD817D). For the judicial mechanism, the State High Court must be formed with a minimum of three and a maximum of five judges. The law sets standards for customary justice and provides that cases may be adjudicated accordingly. It also provides that military offences must be tried separately, and that offences involving both military and civilians must be tried only in civilian courts. Both laws were signed and issued by IEC Chair Khu Oo Reh.
On December 29, the interim parliament held an emergency session attended by 14 of 15 members. The session discussed and approved the nominations by the Karenni State High Court Judges Selection Commission of Khu Poe Reh and Khun Mar Ko as state judges (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=672287265076669&set=a.536887995283264).
On February 6, 2024, it issued statement 1/2024 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=694443719527690&set=a.536887988616598) , stating that the terrorist junta's air and ground heavy-weapons attacks on a school, church buildings and homes in Daw Se Ei and Loi Nan Pha villages, Demoso Township, Karenni State, which killed seven civilians and injured at least 20, were crimes against humanity, a systematic commission of grave crimes prohibited under UN Security Council resolutions (S/RES/1998, 2143 and 2225), and calling on the UN Security Council and international organizations to punish the perpetrators and secure justice for those killed and injured.
Contact
ksip@karennistate.org