KNU

In an exclusive interview with Karen News, Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, despite losing her position as vice-chairperson in the Karen National Union’s 16th Congress recent election, urged the new leaders to work for a genuine peace and to be united with the country’s ethnic nationalities. The KNU 16th congress have elected new a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, joint secretary 1 and…

The Karen National Union elections for its four-year term leadership ended on April 8, 2017 after the top five positions were voted in. Chairperson, General Mutu Sae Po was re-elected to serve in the position for another four years, while Naw Zipporah Sein lost her position as vice-chair in an early round of the election vote. Ms Sein, the KNU’s…

The Karen National Union (KNU) has approved a roadmap roughly outlining its future activities over the next four years. The ethnic armed organization is currently convening its 16th congress, where election of its new leadership body is underway. Padoh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe, chair of the KNU Congress Committee, said the 20-point agenda for 2017-2021 was approved on April 4…

The current 16th Karen National Union (KNU) Congress entered its final stage from the first week of April, 2017. Election of new leadership that will take office for the next four years start tomorrow, on April 6. During the previous weeks, representatives debated several issues before an agreement and understanding could be reached. These issues include the Burma Army’s militarization…

After extensive discussions and over a week of debates, the Karen National Union finally has a new charter setting out its governing principles and administration. The KNU, one of the major ethnic armed groups to have signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in 2015, is holding its 16th national congress in Lay Wah (also known as Law Khee Lar) in…

In a recent evaluation, the Karen National Union deemed signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and being taken off the government’s unlawful organizations list as two of its biggest political achievements over the past four years. At the KNU’s [ongoing] 16th Congress, representatives were presented with a review of the four-year political agenda established by the previous congress in 2012.…

The 16th Congress of the Karen National Union (KNU) is underway. Karen News spoke to Karen leaders to get their opinions on the election for a new leadership that will come out during the Congress. Naw K’nyaw Paw, (Secretary, Karen Women Organization) “The Karen National Union represents all Karen people. Thus, the person who is going to become the leader…

As the Karen National Union prepares to elect a new leadership body this week, displaced Karen families joined a local environmental group in lobbying for the next chairperson to reject hydropower proposals. On March 14, International Day of Action for Rivers, Karen Rivers Watch held a demonstration on the bank of the Salween. Members of the Ee Tu Htat and…

A Japanese nonprofit has unveiled the largest rehabilitation program to date in Karen State, with 1,250 homes built to resettle conflict-affected families. At the March 10 launch event in Lay Kay Kaw village – where 100 of the residential units have been completed – the Nippon Foundation said it was committed to helping Myanmar realize peace, and announced plans to…

Representatives from the Karen National Union’s central level and from seven districts together with other observers made it to Lay Wah (also known as Law Khee Lar) in Pa-an district Karen State to attend the 16th Congress that started today, March 14, 2017. The KNU representatives and observers from the Karen political parties, Karen armed groups and Karen civil society…