Video from Myanmar falsely linked to ongoing conflict in Manipur

What's the claim?

Amid the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, a state in Northeast India, a video was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on July 23, claiming to show American ex-Marine soldiers "instigating" further strife in the region. The video depicts several individuals in combat fatigues shaking hands with two others in civilian clothes before walking to a parked pickup truck.

The video was widely shared with the claim that it proved the "presence of American ex-Marine soldiers" aiding the Chin-Kuki-Zo tribes from Myanmar in creating unrest in Manipur. Social media users alleged these individuals supplied weapons and training, labeling them as "well-trained transnational savages" intent on causing chaos in Manipur. One such English-language post received over 20,000 views, 3,400 reposts, and 4,700 likes; several social media users reposted it, expressing concern at the alleged "American involvement" and calling for an investigation, garnering the video more engagement.

Archived versions of this and other such posts on X tagging Home Minister Amit Shah and the Prime Minister’s Office can be found here, here, and here.

A social media user shared the video to claim that it shows an American ex-Marine helping Chins in Myanmar “instigate havoc” in Manipur. (Source: Screenshot/X/Modified by Logically Facts)

We also found that several users posted the video with the same claim on Facebook, while some others posted screenshots of the viral English X post. Archived versions of such iterations can be seen here, here, here, here, and here.

The video is viral on Facebook with this claim. (Source: Screenshot/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

Ethnic clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribe have kept Manipur on edge since May 2023. Kukis living in Manipur view the Chin people from the conflict-ridden country of Myanmar as their ethnic kin.

However, while the viral video is from Myanmar, it does not depict the Chin National Army (CNA), an ethnic armed group opposing Myanmar's military junta in the western Chin state, or any of its affiliates. Instead, the video features members of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), a social worker, and a video creator. The social worker has been mistakenly identified as a former American soldier training the KNLA.

The video

A reverse image search revealed the video was first posted on a Facebook page called ‘Wah Fish Paste’ (archived here) on June 21, 2024, with the caption, "Every time we say our goodbye, I just pray it’s not our last. Let’s keep the spirit up, brothers!”

The video was shared by the account ‘Wah Fish Paste’ on June 21. (Source: Facebook)

Upon reviewing the photos and videos shared by this page, we identified the page owner as the man wearing a green shirt in the viral video.

Comparison of a photo of the individual behind the ‘Wah Fish Paste’ account with a screenshot of him in the viral video.(Source: Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

The page's bio describes him as a “video creator” and further states, “I’m just a simple guy from Kawthoolei with great ambitions for his people.” Kawthoolei is the Burmese term for Karen state, the home of the Karen people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Myanmar.

Through his Facebook and YouTube accounts (archived here), we found several videos related to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU). The KNU is a political organization representing the aspirations of the Karen people, which, along with its armed wing, has been fighting for self-rule since Myanmar's independence in 1948.

Who are the other men in the video?

The insignia on the uniforms of two men in the video matches that of the KNLA, as seen in images on Alamy and the KNU's official website.

A comparison of KNLA insignia with the insignia visible in the viral video. (Source: Alamy/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

This insignia is also visible on soldiers' uniforms in several other videos uploaded by 'Wah Fish Paste' on his YouTube channel.

Additionally, another man in fatigues in the viral video is seen wearing a cap adorned with the KNU flag.

Comparison of a cap with the Karen flag visible in the viral video with the Karen National Union flag. (Source: Facebook/Wikimedia Commons/Modified by Logically Facts)

This man’s uniform had a different insignia, which could be seen on his left arm at around 0:08 seconds. 

A man in the video had another insignia on his uniform, possibly of the KNLA training division. (Source: Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

We contacted Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign U.K., a London-based NGO focused on restoring human rights and democracy in Myanmar. Farmaner explained that, based on KNLA information, the insignia seen is likely from one of the KNLA’s divisions, possibly the training division.

Regarding the men without visible insignia, Farmaner noted that according to ‘Wah Fish Paste’—the page that first posted the video—they are KNLA trainees.

Farmaner also stated that the ‘Wah Fish Paste’ page owner is a member of the Karen community involved in humanitarian work. The page owner indicated that the video was filmed in January 2024 in Hpapun District, known locally as Mutraw.

The page owner confirmed to Logically Facts that all the men in fatigues were KNLA members who were gathering leaves to build bamboo houses before the rainy season.

Does the video show an American ex-Marine?

Social media users mistakenly referred to another man in a civilian dress as an “American ex-Marine soldier.” However, Farmaner identified him as Jesse Phenow, founder and co-executive director of The Urban Village, a Minnesota-based nonprofit "supporting Myanmar's ethnic peoples in their fight for freedom, justice, and democracy."

Comparison of an image of Jesse Phenow with the man in the video attached with the claims. (Source: Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

The Urban Village's mission, as stated on its website, is to “accompany continuing generations of Karen and Karenni youth as they CONNECT, HEAL, and LAUNCH.” The organization focuses on the Karen ethnic group in Myanmar, with members frequently traveling to Karen State to assist those displaced by conflict. As noted on the website, Phenow has visited Myanmar several times.

There is no evidence that Phenow has ever been a U.S. Marine. According to the organization's website, Phenow graduated from Bethel University in Minnesota, spent nearly a year in Thailand and Myanmar, and then returned to Minnesota to work as a mental health practitioner within St. Paul’s Karen and Karenni communities. He founded The Urban Village in 2019.

Logically Facts has contacted Phenow for comment on the viral video and will update this fact-check upon receiving a response.

The verdict

A video featuring a video creator, Karen community members, KNLA soldiers, and the founder of a nonprofit working with the Karen people has been misrepresented with a false connection to the ongoing conflict in Manipur and America’s alleged involvement in it.

(With inputs from Prabhanu Das.)