Karen State

Residents from Lun-Nya village area, in Hpa-an Township voiced their opposition to a proposed cement factory planned for their area, over concerns that it could endanger their health and fears that they would receive no compensation. As many as 300 villagers raised their concerns at the meeting attended by representatives from Ultra Tech’s Cement Factory and ministers of the Karen…

Karen National Union officials have proposed the government use local based teachers as data collectors when the planned census is conducted in KNU control areas. KNU officials in Dooplaya district told Karen News that they have proposed to the Karen State Census Committee to use local teachers in Dooplaya district for the census. The proposal was made during a meeting…

Burma’s National ID Cards grant relative freedom of travel, allow voting in national elections, access to official schools. Denied for decades basic government services, villagers in Karen State view Burma’s National ID Card scheme with a mix of confusion, indifference, and even fear. Some of the Karen interviewed for this story, referred to the government issued cards as ‘Burma ID…

In a move to be prepared for the national election in 2015, the Hpa-an based Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP) held a plenary conference to spell out the party’s policies. The PSDP is one of the four of Karen parties taking part in the 2010 election. The PSDP told the meeting held on Jan 18 in Hpa-an, Karen State, that its…

A new bridge over the Hong-Tha-Yaw River is to be built connecting Hlaing Kweh and Mae Tha Yaw, in Kawkareik Township. Construction of the bridge started in the first week of January 2014. The iron bridge will be 280 meters long and 7 meters wide, and it is estimated that it will take three years to construct. U Tin Hlaing…

In a show of unity and strength representatives from 17 armed resistance groups met in Karen State to discuss a nationwide ceasefire agreement for Burma. The ethnic armed groups released a statement claiming the conference that ran over five days from 20 to 25 January and held at Law Khee Lar, Karen State was a success. The ethnic armed group…

National League of Democracy official confirmed to Karen News that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will travel to Karen State in the third week of January 2014. Nan Khin Htwey Myint, an executive from the NLD party, the political party that Suu Kyi leads, told Karen News that Suu Kyi was on a goodwill visit to the State to canvass…

Farmers along the Done-Tha-Mi River face severe rice shortages this year due to wet season flooding. Farmers in Mon State and Karen State claim this years rice harvest is almost less than half and blame floodwaters for the shortage. Naw Ya Pu, a villager from Kya-Thaung-Seik in the eastern part of the Done-Tha-Mi River in Hpa-An Township spoke to Karen…

A Japanese aid agency has promised to provide low-interest loans to the Mon State government for road building and other infrastructure projects. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is to finance the reconstruction of a small road that runs between Tarana village in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State and Chaungnakhwa village in Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State, into an all weather…

Government Minister wants to build a village to house returning refugees. U Zaw Min, the chief minister of Karen State, proposed to the Karen National Union’s (KNU) Thaton District on September 28, that he would like to build a village in Hpa An area for refugees living on the Thai border to return to. Saw Aung Thaung Thein, from the…