The Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), a major anti-junta resistance group in eastern Myanmar, will refrain from engaging in civilian administration or commercial enterprises, chairman Khun Bedu announced during the group’s inaugural conference.

Speaking to delegates at the conference held Aug. 28–29, Khun Bedu emphasized that building a strong organizational structure is essential to maintaining a disciplined military force focused solely on protecting civilians.

“I believe the most basic foundation for keeping the force strong and sustainable, while staying out of civilian administration and business, is to have a proper organizational structure,” Khun Bedu said. He added that the group remains committed to guiding its members toward a federal democracy grounded in equality and freedom from military dictatorship.

A primary strategic objective reaffirmed at the conference is unifying all armed factions operating in Karenni (Kayah) State into a single, professional state army.

“Our KNDF Central Committee has decided to keep working toward establishing a state army,” Khun Bedu noted. “This can only happen if we can work together with the political forces in the state and build trust with one another... That trust will become a strong driving force for establishing a state army.”

The two-day conference brought together 105 delegates—including Central Committee members, regional commanders, department heads, and battalion commanders- comprising 91 men and 14 women.

Participants reviewed the group’s military and political activities while adopting future roadmaps for organizational development and alliance-building within Myanmar’s broader resistance movement.