Karen villager

Human rights organisations are expressing grave concerns over the fate of a prominent ethnic Karen activist who disappeared after reportedly being arrested on April 17 at Kaengkrachan National Park in Petchaburi province by Thai authorities. The New York based Human Rights Watch said it was concerned that Por Cha Lee Rakcharoen, also known as Billy, had been “forcibly disappeared.” HRW…

Three soldiers from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 549 held seven Karen villagers hostage, demanding cash for their return, claims Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organization that delivers aid to displaced people. The incident is alleged to have took place on the 26th of January near Law Naw Village, Win Ye Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State. FBR said the villagers…

The 2014 Karen New Year is first time hundreds of Karen villagers east of Myeik were able to celebrate. On January 1, 2014, hundreds of Karen villagers in Paluk and Palaw townships and other eastern parts of Myeik town, Tanintharyi region came to celebrate the Karen New Year in Ka Pyaw (Pa Pyin) village. The Karen National Union (KNU) Mergui-Tavoy…

As the 2013 draws to an end and as 2014 is heralded in a number of issues remain critical for the Karen people. Rations cuts were introduced in the nine refugee camps along the Thai Burma border. Repatriation of refugees is on the agenda but many international humanitarian organizations insists it is still unsafe to send refugees back to their…

Following the good feel surrounding the ceasefire between the Karen and Burma government, villagers forced relocated 10 years ago returned in hope to their old village, only to find it occupied by a palm oil company. Following their forced relocation by Burma Army, Karen villagers from the east of Myeik Town, in southern Burma began to return to their old…

Villagers in Ka Taw Ni village in Southern Burma alleged that a Thai coal mining company used the local Burmese Army to threaten them for protesting for the closure of its coal mine. A villager in Ka Taw Ni, who asked not to be named for fear for his security, told Karen News. “On November 30, a group of Burma…

The Karen National Union has opened, in response to village concerns, a clinic to give remote and isolated rural communities access to healthcare. The Kawkreik Township, Dooplaya District KNU office opened the clinic in the Mae Kanel village in Nu Poe area on November 20, 2013. Pa Doh Saw Eh Kaw Thaw, secretary of the KNU’s Kawkareik Township office said…

Despite a ceasefire in place villagers in southern Burma allege that government troops are abusing their authority by threatening them at gunpoint. A villager from Myitta east of Dawei Town claims that a Burma Army officer based in Kwe Waw Wa (Ain Wine), on the Dawei-Htee Kee Road, abused him without reason at gunpoint. U Zaw Min Oo repeated the…

Villagers in Southern Burma are under attack as rats swarm their rice farms and devour their crops. P’doh Saw Htee Wah, secretary of the Karen National Union’s (KNU) Tenaseerim Township, told Karen News. “Villagers in the areas of Ma Noe Ro, Ta Ket, Pa Wat, Kay are facing a huge problem as rats attack their crops at night and destroyed…

Despite being resettled, displaced Karen villagers in Thar Mae Plaw, in southern Burma, are still living in fear after the Burma Army repeatedly entered their newly resettled site. Saw Honny, a relief worker helping the displaced to resettle in Thar Mae Plaw spoke to Karen News. “Burma Army, Infantry Battalion 101, about 26 soldiers led by 2nd Battalion Commander Aung…