KNU

The Karen National Union and Burma government held further peace talks in the Thai border town of Mae Sot yesterday. The government delegation led by Railway Minister, U Aung Min, met with KNU representatives to discuss and reinforce the agreements they made in earlier meetings. The six member KNU delegation was led by its general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, and…

Karen armed groups have agreed in principal to unite under the same flag to try to resolve all conflicts between them through peaceful dialogue. The armed groups say they will officially recognize the blue, white and red flag that is currently regarded by all Karen as their national flag Representatives of the five groups met on May 28 in Pa-an…

Norway’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Torgeir Larsen, will lead a delegation to the Bago regional town of Kyauk Kyi to meet with internally displaced Karen people today. A number of local Karen National Union sources confirmed to Karen News that the visit will take place today. “They will leave from Yangon on Tuesday morning. The Myanmar government’s Immigration Minister,…

Karen National Union and Burma government representatives, in what is a historic first, attended a literature and culture training ceremony at Koh Koh village in Myawaddy Township. Padoh Saw Ah Toe, head of the KNU Forestry Department, gave the closing ceremony speech and said that new generation had an important role in maintaining Karen literature and culture as well as…

Colonel Moe Phyu, a senior officer with the Karen National Liberation Army, served 37 of his 62 years in the Karen revolution, died on May 11th from complication related to hypertension and diabetes. Colonel Moe Phyu started his military career as a private in the KNLA, but quickly rose through the ranks to become a Colonel with the position of…

This morning the Karen National Union officially opened its third liaison office in Three Pagoda Pass Town, Dooplaya District, Karen State to help cooperation between the KNU and the Burma government. KNU sources said that the liaison office will make working with the Burma Army to put the agreed ceasefire arrangements in place a lot easier and more practical. The…

The Karen National Union is to open a new liaison branch office at Three Pagoda Pass in Dooplaya district of Karen State on May 15, according to a local officer from the KNU. A Karen National Liberation Army officer said the liaison office, in Three Pagoda Pass, Dooplaya District, will make working with the Burma Army to put the ceasefire…

The Karen National Union (KNU) are to ask the Burma Government to clarify the role of business groups involved as advisors in the ‘peace talk’ negotiations. The KNU has questioned the motives of the business advisors involvement in the ceasefire talks after concerned Karen people raised questions about the potential of a conflict of interest. Karen observers said some of…

The Karen National Union says human rights violations and military related issues will be discussed with the Burma government in the next round of ‘peace talks’ planned for later this month. It was statement by some of the KNU’s Peace Negotiation Team members who were held a discussion and press conference with some NGOs and media at Bangkok about update…

According to a Karen National Union source, villagers in Kyauk Kyi Township in the Bago Region have more freedom to travel since the preliminary ceasefire agreement between Karen National Union and government. Padoh Saw Ner Htoo Byaing, KNU chairman in Kyauk Kyi Township told Karen News. “Villagers now don’t need to get travel permission documents to move around the area.…