Peacetalk

The Karen National Union has requested that the Burmese government include members of its military elite in future ‘peace talks’ between the two sides. In a meeting held yesterday, in the Burma border town of Myawaddy, the KNU chairman General Saw Mutu Say Poe met with Burma’s Vice-President, Sai Mauk Kham. According to a KNU source, General Mutu, the heads…

January 12 not only marked Karen New Year, but also the first anniversary of the Karen National Union’s (KNU) ceasefire with the Burmese Government. That makes it the longest running truce in the six decades old struggle. This is a cause for optimism. Yet a ceasefire is not an end in itself, peace requires a sustainable and equitable settlement. It…

A number of reports by a diverse range of international and local organizations have scrutinized Burma’s government and while applauding recent positive changes, found it wanting in all functions of government from political inclusion, to rule of law to land rights to healthcare. Professor Desmond Ball of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra…

A Karen National Union delegations met with Vice-Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the Defense Ministry and the Tatmadaw (Burma Army), in the country’s capital, Naypyidaw, to talk about the need for nationwide ‘concrete ceasefire agreements’ between all ethnic armed groups and the government. Padoh Mahn Mahn, joint secretary of the KNU and a member of its delegation…

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…

U Phyinyarthami (also known as Taungalay Sayadaw), the Abbot of Taungalay Temple in Hpa-an Township in Karen State, talked to Karen News about the Karen National Union’s (KNU’s) work and the current problems within the political organisation. Here are Abbot Taungalay Sayadaw’s views. “If I am to give my opinion on the KNU, I would say that every KNU leader…

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…

Naw Ohn Hla is a former political prisoner and a former member of the National League for Democracy, the political party led by Aung San Suu Kyi. She was sentenced in 2009 to two years in Taungoo Prison and was released in 2011. Naw Ohn Hla spoke to Karen News. Q: There is conflict among KNU leaders. Who does it…

The Karen Baptist Convention (Burma) has invited officials from the Karen National Union and community based organizations on the Thai-Burma border to attend a meeting tomorrow, November 17, to explain its on-going ‘peace talks’ with the government. Dr. Gabriel, KBC’s executive officer explained to Karen News that the two-day meeting would discuss religious issues, but this year a special segment…

Karen community organizations, people and religious leaders in Burma have called for the Karen National Union (KNU) to resolve its internal conflict, unite and to continue its ongoing ‘peace-talks’ with the Burma’s government. Representatives from different Karen social organizations, individuals and religions leaders were meeting for the third time to discuss how they could help, contribute and support the building…