The Karenni Army, the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), ordered people in Karenni State on Dec. 19 not to gather in large groups for prayers or celebrate at churches throughout the Christmas holidays, from Dec. 24 to Jan. 5, 2026.
“We’ll still go to the church [for prayers]. But we heard nothing about celebrations,” a resident of Hpruso Township, who was displaced from her home due to fighting between regime and resistance forces, told DVB on the condition of anonymity. She added that she agreed with the Karenni Army’s order not to allow festive gatherings in fear of regime airstrikes.
Hpruso is located 22 miles (35 km) south of the Karenni State capital Loikaw, and is contested between regime and resistance forces. DVB has documented that 83 civilians were killed in 53 aerial attacks in Karenni State since March 28.
Phone Naing, chief-of-staff of the Karenni Army, confirmed to DVB that the order was meant to protect residents from airstrikes and other attacks over the Christmas holidays.
At least 35 residents of Moso village in Hpruso Township were reportedly burnt to death by regime forces on the night of Dec. 24, 2021.
The regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) has scheduled elections in Loikaw, Bawlakhe, Demoso and Hpruso townships, which are under regime control.
Mese, Shadaw and Hpasawng townships will not host the elections since they are under the control of Karenni resistance forces. Karenni State has a total of seven townships.
The Interim People’s Administration Team in Mindat Township of southern Chinland also issued an order on Dec. 19 banning public gatherings and festive celebrations until further notice, citing the threat of regime airstrikes.
The Chin Brotherhood and its allied resistance forces seized control of Mindat, located 120 miles (193 km) south of the Chinland capital Hakha, on Dec. 21, 2024.
The Chin Defence Force (CDF) stated that four civilians were killed and over 10 others were injured by airstrikes carried out on two Mindat villages on Oct. 8.
A total of 31 civilians were killed in 64 aerial attacks in Chinland, according to DVB data.
The UEC has planned elections in Hakha, Thantlang, Falam, Tonzang, and Tedim townships. Matupi, Kanpetlet and Mindat townships are under Chin resistance control. Paletwa in southern Chinland is under Arakan Army (AA) control. Chinland has a total of nine townships.
The regime elections are scheduled to take place in 274 out of Myanmar’s 330 townships with voting in three phases: Dec. 28, Jan. 11, and Jan. 25, 2026, according to the UEC.
Voting will not be held in 56 townships, but will take place in urban areas of another 10. An additional 161 wards and 2,770 village tracts were excluded from voting by the UEC.
