Articles

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…

U Kyar Ku, 51 year-old a villager from Kaw Thin Shue, who is on a police wanted list was arrested on August 13 by Hpa-an police and charged with drug and weapon offenses. Speaking to Karen News, a police officer from Myoma Police Station in Hpa-an Townships said. “With information we got from a villager, we arrested the suspect who…

Severe flooding in Karen State has displaced tens of thousands as the Emergency Assistance and Relief Team (EART) calls for help to deliver aid to those families worst affected. Since late July, over 33,000 people have been displaced due to the flooding in Karen State, Burma. Hundreds of families have had their homes completely destroyed, as floodwaters ruined rice fields,…

Shan community based organizations claim that Burmese authorities are preparing to repatriate Shan refugees from Thailand, warning that the safety of refugees are at risk and repatriation is “premature.” The community groups, the Shan Human Rights Foundation and the Shan Women’s Action Network, said that Burmese authorities had visited Koung Jor camp of about 500 people last month. The camp…

Farm workers refusing to work for low wages in the Irrawaddy Delta has caused a labor shortage in the region. Farm owners in Ba Wine village, Pantanaw Township, say it is now difficult to find workers to work for wages lower than what is on offer in the big cities. Saw Han Gyi, a local farm owner from Ba Wine…

The Karen Wrist Tying ceremony – a popular Karen ethnic traditional ceremony is to be held in the Irrawaddy Delta region for the first time. The Karen Wrist Tying ceremony is organized by members of the Karen Literature and Culture Committee based in Pantannaw Township, Irrawaddy Division on August 12. Mahn Win Maung, joint secretary of the Karen Literature and…

Today is the 63rd anniversary of Karen Martyrs’ Day that commemorates Karen leaders and civilians who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the Karen people under successive Burma military regimes. In a letter addressing all Karen people, General Mutu Say Po, chairman of the Karen National Union, said that the sacrifice of their lives by its martyrs had help…

Hundreds of refugees in southern Thailand gathered today to commemorate the Karen Martyrs’ Day on 12 August. The Karen refugees from the Tham Hin camp joined to commemorate the 63rd Anniversary of Karen Martyrs’ Day. Saw Raymond Bu, head of Tham Hin refugee committee bluntly told the large crowd of refugees. “Our lives as refugees, is like that of chickens…