Burma

Karen representatives from across Burma held a two-day forum from January 9 to 10, in Hpa-An, Karen State, with the objective of “forming a united position of all the Karen nationals of Burma, acquiring true Karen population figures and using the correct names of Karen sub-groups for the 2014 Population Census Enumeration.” Karen State is officially called ‘Kayin State’ by…

A fire has destroyed an estimated 102 buildings in Mae La Refugee Camp, 57km north of the Thai town of Mae Sot. Camp officials say the fire broke out in Zone C at the Mae La Refugee Camp today at 1.30pm and lasted until around 3pm. Naw Day Day Poe, joint secretary of Mae La’s camp committee confirmed to Karen…

As the world mark International Migrants Day today, regional labor rights groups are taking the opportunity to raise the ongoing plight of many migrant workers in Thailand – many of whom are from Burma – where they have few rights and are vulnerable to extortion. With four million migrant workers in Thailand, migrants form a crucial source of cheap labour…

In a first for humanitarian organisations in Burma, the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) was awarded the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, in Taipei on Tuesday December 10. The award is given annually for “significant contributions to the advancement of human rights or democracy in Asia through peaceful means.” Established in 1992, The…

Last week the border crossing from Thailand’s Mae Sot to Burma’s Myawaddy opened its doors to let foreign tourists travel overland. Three foreign cyclists crossed into Burma through the Thai-Burma border Friendship Bridge at the Mae Sot-Myawaddy crossing on November 27 to start their tour of Burma. According to immigration officials at the border, the three cyclists, two from Belgium…

Burma courts fine Kachin peace activists 40,000 Kyat for violating a controversial protest law that critics claim is used to gag political dissent. The two activists were charged under Section 18 of Burma’s Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. They were fined on the 26th of November. The two activists, May Sabe Phyu and Maran Jaw Gun took part in…

Myanmar’s ethnic media is at a crossroads writes Ko Htwe. Government restrictions have eased, but ethnic groups are still fighting for an equal voice. Myanmar’s independent media suffered during 60 years of military rule. The country’s dictator, General Ne Win, effectively banned or censored any media that was not state owned. While a series of reforms implemented by President Thein…

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Australia for five-day visit,criticised Burma’s current constitution as being “undemocratic” and urged the international community to put added pressure on Burma’s government to undergo further reforms. Speaking at the Sydney Opera House on the 27th of November, where Ms Suu Kyi received honorary degrees from both the University of Sydney and the University of…

Recent reforms in Burma have not stopped thousands of migrant workers moving to Thailand in search of work. International workers organisations estimate that more than 2 million Burmese migrants have come to Thailand in search of better paid work. It is estimated that in some villages in Karen State, that as many as 80% of young and middle-aged men and…

In part two of her exclusive interview with Karen News, *Zoya Phan, the Campaigns Manager at Burma Campaign UK, outlines what she thinks the international community needs to do to have the Burma government engage in genuine political dialogue. Zoya Phan said that despite some changes in Burma the country “still has a long way to go and lots of…