Karen

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) will hold a joint Military Parade for the first time to mark the 65th anniversary of the Karen Revolution Day on Friday January 31. Saw Moshay, the DKBA’s deputy chief-of-staff told Karen News that the joint parade would be held at the KNLA’s 7th Brigade headquarters that…

Dr Timothy Laklem calls for Karen unity and self-determination and for all ethnic people to be treated equally within a democratic and federal union of Burma. It is not my intention in this ‘opinion piece’ to blame, but rather to give a strong reminder to those negotiating for peace, that whatever we do now can turn the tide of history…

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…

The sound of children singing resounds from Klay Poe Klo School in Karen State, Burma. Naw Htoo La Paw smiles as the song finishes, her youngest child held in one arm. Kids bustle out of the classroom – a single, open room with wooden benches – heading for lunch. Htoo La Paw is one of four teachers at Klay Poe…

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…

General Mutu Say Poe, the chairman of the Karen National Union in his New Year address to the community called for unity, solidarity and said that the Karen people have to be proud of their culture and traditions. General Mutu spoke of the Karen “national characteristics – its calendar, traditions and customs.” General Mutu stressed the importance of the Karen…

Karen News spoke to people attending New Year celebrations held at Border Guard Force headquarters on the Burma side of the River Moei to ask them what they wanted peace talks to deliver in 2014. Thousands of Karen came the BGF headquarters at Shwe Kokko Myaing village in Myawaddy Township to celebrate Karen New Year in what was a highly…

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…

The leader of the Karen militia that attacked the Burma Army in Myawaddy in late 2010 and in the resulting firefight forcing thousands of refugees into Thailand has been admitted to a Rangoon hospital for treatment of what is feared maybe cancer. Major General Saw Lah Pwe, also known as Na Kham Mway, is the leader of the Klo Htoo…

By Karen News Mae La Refugee Camp officials confirmed that a fire that tore through Zone C of Mae La Refugee camp destroyed as many as 120 houses. Camp officials confirmed to karen News that the fire broke out at around 1.30pm of Friday 27 December. Naw Blooming Night Zan, a spokesperson for the Karen Refugee Committee told Karen News…