The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has announced the death of Phone Naing, deputy chief commander of the Karenni Army, at the age of 76. He passed away on Sunday in a hospital in Thailand, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.

A respected figure

Phone Naing was remembered as a strict but fair commander, admired for his discipline and generosity outside military affairs. “He was like an uncle to me,” said Banyar Aung, Secretary‑2 of the Karenni Interim Executive Council. Others described him as a battle‑hardened leader who spoke little but achieved much.

Funeral on the border

The KNPP confirmed that a funeral service will be held on 30 September along the Thailand‑Myanmar border, in territory controlled by Karenni resistance forces. His death follows that of KNPP General Secretary Aung San Myint, who died in Chiang Mai on 30 August.

Legacy of resistance

Phone Naing joined the KNPP and its armed wing at the age of 21, dedicating his life to the Karenni struggle. In a 2025 interview, he stressed that their fight was not only for Karenni interests but for freedom across Myanmar, including for the Bamar majority.

The KNPP is a founding member of the Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF), a coalition formed in March 2025 that includes the Karen National Union, the Kachin Independence Organisation and the Chin National Front. The SCEF also works alongside the National Unity Government and the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, both formed after the 2021 coup.

A pivotal loss

His passing marks another blow to the Karenni resistance, which has lost two senior leaders in just a month. For many, Phone Naing embodied decades of struggle and sacrifice, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire fighters along the border.

-2026-09-28