Karen

The Karen National Union 15th Congress finished with the election of all the organization’s positions voted-in for the next four years administration. Following the election of its five top leaders, together with its Central Standing Committee, the KNU elected General Saw Jonny, the former commander of the Karen National Liberation Army 7th Brigade, as its Army Chief. General Saw Baw…

The Karen National Union’s top five positions were elected in a secret ballot at the organisation’s 15th Congress held at Lay Wah, Pa-an District, Karen State, today, 21 December. The five new leaders are – General Mutu Say Poe, chairperson, Naw Zipporah Sein as vice-chairperson, Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win is the new general secretary, Padoh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe…

General Mutu Say Poe won the leadership of Karen National Union in a secret ballot at the organisations 15th Congress held in Lay Wah, Pa-an District, Karen State. Karen News is led to understand that all the KNU’s top three key positions were also decided today, Friday 21 December – Naw Zipporah Sein was elected to vice-chairperson and Saw Kwe…

The votes for key positions in the Karen National Union are expected to be closed today, Friday 21 December. The key positions are – the five executives and department heads and the central standing committee. Many observers say the KNU 15th Congress is an opportunity for the organisation to show a united front. It is expected that the 15th Congress…

The first ever Karen Women’s seminar has been attended by more than 40 Karen women who work in a wide variety of fields, including education, health, social work and human rights. “This is the first time Karen women from various geographic areas have come together to consult and discuss various issues related to women participation in the peace process.” The…

An ethnic political party will publish the first nationally distributed Karen magazine since the government launched its media reform agenda. The Palon-Sagaw Party based in Pa-an Town in Karen State said the objective of the magazine is to get distribution of the first Kayin Thu Ri Ya (Karen The Sun) Magazine out to the whole of Burma and to inform…

General Tamla Baw, the Karen National Union’s President resigned on the first day of the KNU’s 15th Congress held at Lay Wah Camp, Hlaing Bwe Towhship in Karen State. General Tamla Baw, who had a long and distinguish career as a soldier said in his opening speech at the KNU Congress. “I will resign at this Congress. I advise those…

Karen community based organizations from inside Burma want the Karen National Union leaders to put the people’s interest first in the ongoing ‘peace talks’ with the government. The Karen based community groups raised their concerns at meeting during the Myanmar Baptist Convention in Rangoon on November 20. Saw Kyaw Swar from the Karen Affair Committee said concerns about the huge…

The Karen National Union’s (KNU) next four-year Congress and elections will be held on 26 November. The KNU Congress is also the political organization’s decision-making mechanism. This Congress promises lots of drama – ceasefire agreements and ‘peace-talks’ with the government, divisions within the leadership and a call for power sharing with younger and more accomplished KNU members. After elections are…

Two men from Mae La refugee camp were shot dead in mysterious circumstances last week. The two men were from Mae La refugee camp in Tak Province on the Thai-Burma border. Both men were found dead on November 7 outside the camp. The men had been traveling between the Thai villages of Nya Mu Klo and Htee Maw Hta, about…