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While the rest of the world is fighting the Coronavirus pandemic, the Burma Army ordered the Karen National Union to close its Covid-19 screening post it had set up in Doothathoo (Thaton) district on 30 April 2020. The Burma Army interference came despite requests from the community, government officials and a Member of Parliament. Doothathoo (Thaton) district is a mixed…

Plans to turn rice fields running from the River Moei up into the Dawna Mountain Range into a giant construction site of large concrete houses, apartment blocks, casinos and an international airport are causing concerns for Karen community groups. The grand plan to turn thousands of acres of Karen land surrounding the small village of Shwe Koko into a mega…

The Burma government has closed its Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge crossing to foreigners in an attempt to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19). The Burma government has said the border is closed to all foreigners with the exemption of Thai and Myanmar citizens. U Than Shwe, an immigration officer and the deputy in-charge of the Myawaddy-Mae Sot No.1 Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge…

Saw Tha Boe, a Karen environmental activist who was sued and charged with defamation against the State by Hpa-An Township court says he will fight the case to prove he did not break the law. On March 6, local police went to arrest Saw Tha Boe, who works for Karen River Watch, by going to his house, but he was…

Fighting between Burma Army and Karen soldiers in northern Karen State forced hundreds of villagers from their home into jungle hideouts while the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is touring Karen State. Ceasefire violations by Burma Army had caused tensions with Karen National Liberation Army soldiers in its 5th Brigade area in Mutraw [Papun] district in the northern Karen…

The Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) put out a statement calling the people of Burma and international communities in the country to boycott products of companies linked to Burma’s military. The KWO statement issued on February 18, 2020 urged for a ban on products made by military companies and called on foreign embassies and donors in Burma to make sure their…

Karen National Day in Brief February 11, 2020 Starting from the end of WW-2, the entire Karen nationality called for the creation of a Karen State. However, the AFPFL government in power, under the domination of the Burman/Myanmar ultra-nationalists, falsely and derisively accused that the movement was being launched by a handful of Karen people, it was instigated by the…

Respected Health Worker Loses Battle with Cancer Padoh Saw Eh Kalu Shwe Oo, a department head of the Karen National Union, passed away on February 8 at 12:49 PM at his home on the Thai-Burma border. Padoh Saw Eh Kalu Shwe Oo, aged 65, died after suffering from liver cancer, according to his eldest son, Saw K’ser Mu Khah, who…

The International Court of Justice began its hearing on December 10 in The Hague, Netherlands on its genocide lawsuit filed by Gambia against Burma government. Prior to the court hearing, several ethnic Karen, Karenni and Shan civil society groups put out a joint statement supporting Gambia’s lawsuit. On December 2, 2019 the Worldwide Karen Community issued a statement welcoming the…

On a recent mission to Mon State, Burma Children Medical Fund staff were surprised to see an old patient, Saw Than Htet turn up with villagers to have their eyes tested. Now grown up, married with wife and family, Saw Than Htet, now 33, reflected back to when BCMF organized lifesaving heart surgery for him in 2014. Saw Than Htet,…