August 29, 2026
Karen armed leaders, who are currently facing international economic sanctions and arrest warrants for their alleged involvement in Chinese cyber scam operations, avoided public appearances but provided heavy financial backing to ensure the Karen Traditional Wagaung Wrist-Tying Ceremonies were held on a grand scale, according to sources close to the Karen Literature and Culture Committees.
“They sponsored this year’s ceremony to be the grandest yet, providing hundreds of lakhs [tens of millions of Kyats]. The scam kingpins leaders like Saw Chit Thu, Bo Mote Thon, Bo Tin Win, Major Nai Maung Zaw, and Major Thein Zaw Min put up the capital. They didn’t attend the events themselves, but their subordinates did. Gas station owners, businesspeople, and local merchants were also forced to chip in. The festival lasted for three days, and thousands of people attended,” a local source explained.
Additionally, financial support was reportedly dispatched to host grand wrist-tying ceremonies in rural territories controlled by Karen armed groups, including Hpa-An, Myaing Gyi Ngu, Shwe Kokko, Sone See Myaing, Payathonsu, Kyainseikgyi, and Hlaingbwe townships.
The traditional ceremonies were celebrated widely across Myawaddy, Mae Sot, and local villages on the eve and the full moon day of Wagaung. While the armed leaders avoided the public eye, photos posted on social media by their family members showed them performing the wrist-tying rituals privately at home with their elders, children, and relatives.
“This year, we didn’t see the Karen armed leaders attending the ceremonies. In previous years, they acted as the main VIPs. It feels like something is missing now. Because they usually support and attend these events to preserve our traditions, it’s sad not seeing them this year. Whatever their business may be, we still want them to attend our cultural festivals,” a member of the Karen Literature and Culture Committee commented.
At these heavily funded public ceremonies, the VIP seats were instead filled by military junta officials, civilian department heads, state-level junta ministers, pro-junta Karen political party leaders, and former MPs. According to local sources in Myawaddy, troops from the Border Guard Force (BGF), DKBA, KNLA, and Peace Council (PC) were primarily deployed to provide security for the events.
