Articles

The Karen National Union met with refugees and representatives of civil society organizations in Mae La refugee camp on the Thai Burma border to discuss and explain its ongoing peace building process with the Burma government. The meeting took place on Thursday, August 29 and came on the back of rumors circulating throughout the refugee population that there were plans…

Kyauk Khet villagers, devastated after losing their homes in last week’s floods are scared of rebuilding as weather authorities predict more heavy rain for the region. Villagers watched in horror as last week’s heavy rain caused the Kyauk Khet River to break its banks and wash away 17 houses. Kyauk Khet village located in Myawaddy Township, Karen State is split…

Burma’s government in a move to speed up trade and tourism between Thailand, announced yesterday, August 28, that it would allow foreigners holding its visa’s to travel into the country by any of the four entry points. The four border gates are between Myawaddy-Mae Sot, Tachileik-Mae Sai, Kawthaung-Ranong and Htee Khee-Sunaron. Speaking at the ceremony held to mark the opening…

This year’s Karen wrist tying ceremony came with added significance. A two-year ceasefire still holding, Karen armed groups, once sworn enemies promising to be united and villagers able to travel freely in their homeland. Saw Myint Thu, an organizing committee member for this year’s ceremony in Hpa-an told Karen News that this year’s celebration is the best yet. Saw Myint…

Following on from his dramatic fact finding trip to Burma last week, when his car was attacked by religious fanatics, Mr Tomas Ojea Quintana, a United Nations special rapporteur on human rights, paid a visit to the Thai-Burma Border to meet with civil society groups. Mr. Quintana met with the border-based groups in the Thai town of Mae Sot to…

Labour rights groups, including the Migrant Worker Rights Network, Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, Human Rights and Development Foundation and State Enterprise Workers’ Relations Confederation of Thailand, have together expressed concern over a lack of clarity in Burma and Thailand’s migration policy as the two countries latest National Verification (NV) policy initiative expires. The NV process, despite being plagued by exorbitant…

Fighting between the Karen National Liberation Army and the government’s militia, the Border Guard Force (BGF) erupted in the Weigyi area of Papun Township, Karen State last week. Soldiers from KNLA Battalion 102 Company under the command of Lieutenant Saw Eh Ka Mwe fought with BGF troops led by Lieutenant AB Lwin from Battalion 1014. The KNLA had 20 soldiers…

A move by the Burmese government to send teachers to Karen National Union controlled areas has created tensions with villagers. Saw Mu Htee, from the Karen Teacher Working Group (KTWG) who is visiting Karen schools in the Pa-an district spoke to Karen News. “In 2013, Burmese government sent more government teachers to Karen villages and order local educational authorities. Parents…

Three tragic incidents involving women sent shock waves through the Tham Tin refugee camp in Thailand this week. The three separate incidents happened on August 13, when two Karen refugee women are alleged to have killed themselves, while a third woman survived an attempted suicide. The incidents happened at the Tham Hin refugee camp in Southern Thailand. The first tragedy…

After an argument broke out between four members of a Karen militia group three ended up dead from gunshots. The four Karen men were members of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, a Karen armed group led by former Karen National Liberation Army, 7th Brigade Commander General Htin Maung. The KNU/KNLA Peace Council broke away from the Karen National Union and signed…