fighting

General Ner Dah Bo Mya, the head of the Karen National Defence Organisation told Karen News that armed conflict this month in Burma is linked to plans to build hydropower dams on the Salween River. In an exclusive interview General Ner Dah explains to Karen News why he has placed his troops are on high alert. General Ner Dah said…

The Shan Human Rights Foundation released a media statement on 22nd October alleging that the Burma Army had on committed abuses against civilians while fighting the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (a.k.a Shan State Army-North or SSA-N) over for days. The Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) statement said that “during October 12-18, 2014, the Burmese government troops continued to…

While the government insists it wants to end its conflicts with ethnic groups, locals in Karen State say they are still bearing the brunt of the brutal divide and conquer tactics. Recent escalation in heavy fighting in Karen State sent shockwaves through ethnic villages, shattering any trust they may have had in the current ceasefire and “peace talks” between the…

The Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), an independent community based human rights organisation, has called for all armed sides in Burma to hold members of their armed forces to account if they have perpetrated abuses, including any abusive actions taken in the latest fighting. The KHRG said that the DKBA and Burmese government forces involved in the recent fighting in…

An artillery shell killed four and wounded nine civilians travelling on the Myawaddy – Kawkareik road – a major trading route from Thailand. An unidentified armed group is believed to have fired the shell that landed in front of a shop at Ale Bo Tae on Saturday, October 11. A police officer in Kawkareik Township, who asked to remain anonymous,…

Fighting occurred between the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and Burma Army on October 10, forcing Karen villagers to flee. The latest armed clashes broke out at around 10am between the DKBA and the government’s army at Kaung Mu village in Kawkareik Township. Sources from the DKBA’s liaison office in Kawkareik said that the fighting lasted about an hour. The fighting…

A soldier has been killed during fighting between the Karen National Defense Organisation (that operates under the control of the Karen National Union) and the Burma Army. The fighting took place on September 27 near Mu The’ village in Kyaukgyi Township, Pago division, where the Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion #361 was patrolling areas under the control of the KNU.…

Residents of the Burma border town of Myawaddy told Karen News that fighting broke out at Aung Shwe Bo section between government soldiers and Karen armed groups. A woman resident said, “fighting took place at Aung Shwe Bo section where both the Burma Army and BGF [Border Guard Force] are based. [Burma] army had now shut down all road access…

Fighting broke out in Karen State’s Brigade 5 area between Karen National Liberation Army forces and the Burma Army. The fighting took place on September 9. The fighting between the KNLA Brigade 5, based in Mutraw, Papun District, and Burma Army forces, including infantry battalion #19, from U Thoo Hta camp involved light weapon exchanges. The two forces exchanged fire…

A coalition of Shan community-based-organizations has urged the United States to pressure Burma government to stop its military offensives in Shan State. In a formal letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the coalition of Shan CBO’s said that new Burma Army offensives were causing hundreds of villagers to flee their homes in terror. “We are now gravely…