Karen

National League for Democracy, at Myaungmya Township submitted an official complaint against the village administration head for making threats against the NLD youth members’ election campaign team. During a NLD’s election campaign trip on March 15th to Shan Kyaw village, Myaungmya Township in the Irrawaddy Region, an argument broke out with village administration head and the NLD team. U Win…

With the aim of strengthening their collective bargaining power, the Karen National Union met this week with the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and the KNU/KNLA Peace Council. The KNU delegation led by Major Saw Hla Ngwe – joint secretary of KNU and Lieutenant General Oliver – Deputy Chief of Staff of the Karen National Liberation Army, met with the KNU/KNLA-PC…

The Karen Women Organization held a ceremony to honor the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2012 by celebrating their victories and at the same time vowed to continue their fight for the emergence of legal protection and a guarantee of protection of women against violence. Naw Dah Eh Kler, secretary of the KWO spoke to Karen News. “Now in…

Two soldiers from the Burma Army attempted to rape a Karen woman in a location near the Thai border village of Mulu Chai [opposite Thay Baw Boe village on the Burma side], Phophra district in Tak province, Thailand. On 5th of March 2012 at about 4 pm, two men Burma Army soldiers abducted a 22-year- old Karen woman on a…

Karen ethnic organizations, from both inside Burma and overseas, attended a conference organized by the Karen Worldwide alliance. The conference ran for four days, from 27th February to 1st March, and was held inside Karen State. Karen Worldwide say the conference was called in response to the current political situation in Burma. A media statement released by Karen Worldwide estimates…

Ms K’nyaw Paw an executive member of the Karen Women’s Organization and Presidium Board Member of Women’s League of Burma told Karen News that is crucial that women are an integral part of the on-going peace negotiations with the Burma government and the Karen National Union. “It is important that women are represented during the peace talks and that are…

The winner of the 2011, Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award is Saw Htoo Htoo Eh, a field worker with the humanitarian group Free Burma Rangers. Saw Htoo Htoo Eh described his work to Karen News. “I collect information about the needs of displaced children in conflict zones in Karen State. From the information I collect I assess and organize…

In an effort to develop unity and peace, representatives from different religions within Karen society came together for a seminar held on the Thai-Burma border last week. The purpose for the seminar is for religious leaders to involve in the process of bringing peace and unity among Karen. Post Views: 412

It is four years since the assassination of former Karen leader Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan and his killers have yet to be brought to justice. Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan was the Karen National Union general secretary at the time of his murder by unknown assassins in his office in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. The KNU’S…

Access to education for Karen children is compromised by lack of schools, poverty, conflict, displacement, and low or no wages for teachers. Makeshift schools on the Thai Burma border often offer the only chance for young Karen to get an education. The sound of teenagers chanting in English and Karen echoes off the tin roof as teachers point to symbols…