More Karens have joined the new Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council that recently “joined hands” with the Burmese regime.

The small group, led by Maj Yin Nu, the former quartermaster of the 7th Brigade and a close colleague of Maj Gen Htain Maung, numbers about 20 people, including three soldiers, according to an officer with the Karen National Liberation Army, who spoke to The Irrawaddy on Thursday. He said Maj Yin Nu was an early supporter of Htain Maung.

However, sources on the Thai-Burmese border, said Yin Nu’s group numbers about 70 people, including about 30 soldiers. The group has reportedly joined the KNU/KNLA Peace Council contingent that has made its headquarters at Toh Kaw Koe Village in Kawkareik Township, Karen State. Sources say there are others in the KNU who also support the peace council group.

According to a senior KNU officer, Htain Maung still lives in his home at KNU 7th Brigade headquarters near the Thai-Burmese border in Paan District.

Htain Maung was dismissed as commander of the KNU 7th Brigade after his splinter group reached a peace agreement on January 16 without KNU Central Committee approval. He and his supporters formed the KNU/KNLA Peace Council on January 31 and “joined hands” with Burmese military officers on February 11 during a ceremony in Toh Kaw Koe Village.