KNU

Respected Health Worker Loses Battle with Cancer Padoh Saw Eh Kalu Shwe Oo, a department head of the Karen National Union, passed away on February 8 at 12:49 PM at his home on the Thai-Burma border. Padoh Saw Eh Kalu Shwe Oo, aged 65, died after suffering from liver cancer, according to his eldest son, Saw K’ser Mu Khah, who…

The Karen National Union is to meet with Burma Army officers to discuss tensions over road building, troop expansion in Karen State. The meeting will be held in Naypyidaw, today, December 10 2019, according to KNU statement released yesterday. The meeting is mainly to discuss about military issues including tensions in some areas of the KNU controlled territories due to…

For the first time, four Karen ethnic armed groups have agreed to hold the district level Karen New Year celebrations on December 26, 2019. Padoh Saw Shwe Maung, the Karen National Union’s Doo Pla Ya District Chairman said. “Karen people have survived many hardships from generation to generation. Even though we are different [armed] organizations, we are the same Karen.…

The Karen National Union said the effectiveness and the usefulness of foreign funding has been nullified by need for ethnic armed organizations to seek permission from the government. The National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC), formed by the President’s Office to set policies and guidelines for reconciliation and peace process taking place, sent an official letter to 10 ethnic armed…

The Karen National Union briefed 168 representatives from its departments and 63 Karen civil society organizations at Law Khee Lar (also known as) Lay Wah in Pa-An district, Karen State from 4 to 5 October, 2019. The KNU said the aim of the meeting was to update community groups on the current political negotiations it faced – items discussed included…

To achieve peace in Burma, Padoh Saw Thamaing Tun, a KNU Central Committee member, said the government needs to prioritize the country’s ethnic nationalities aspirations without resorting to armed conflict. Padoh Saw Thamaing Tun was speaking at an International Peace Day event on September 21 in Thandaung Myothit, Northern Karen State. Padoh Saw Thamaing Tun told the gathering it was…

Hundreds of Karen representatives from 56 different groups gathered to strengthen Karen customary land management systems at a seminar held at Lay Wah, Karen State from May 29 to 30, 2019. The Kaw Customary Land Seminar was attended by 519 people including representatives from local community and civil society, donors, INGOs, political parties, and officers of the Karen National Union.…

The Burma Army, ignoring the concerns and objections of both the Karen National Union and local villagers, are planning to move ahead with plans to build road in Kyaukgyi Township of Eastern Bago Region. Despite local residents and the Karen National Union’s rejection of its plans to build the road, the Burma Army have secured government funding for its ‘local…

2019 marks an important year for Karen armed struggle for self-autonomy in many ways. On January 31st, we will celebrate 70th anniversary of the Karen Revolution Day, a day when Karen people first launched their armed movement against the government of Burma in 1949 for an autonomous state. This year celebration also marks an important moment in the unity of…

Armed clashes in January 2019 between troops from the Karen National Liberation Army and Burma Army soldiers in Northern Papun District of Karen State. KNLA sources reported that two armed skirmishes happened on January 5 and 13 in the Karen National Union’s controlled Papun (Mutraw) area between the KNLA Brigade 5 and Burma Army units operating in the area. Major…