Peacetalk

The Karen National Union have appealed for Karen civil society groups based inside Burma and oversea to voice their thoughts before the official ‘peace talks’ between the KNU and the Burma government takes place on January 12. Naw Zipporah Sein, general secretary of KNU told Karen News that the KNU meeting with the government is critically important to all Karen…

The New Mon State Party and a government delegation headed by Burma’s Minister for Railways, U Aung Min held preliminary ‘peace talks’ in Thailand on the 22nd December. The New Mon State Party confirmed to Karen News that the meeting with the Burma government representatives took place in Thailand. “The meeting was only at the preliminary stage. We will try…

The Karen National Union confirmed to Karen News that it will officially meet with the Burma government to progress ceasefire talks on 12th January 2012 in Pa-an Town, Karen State. Padoh Saw David Taw, the secretary of the KNU Peace Committee told Karen News and said that the New Year meeting was confirmed during an informal preliminary meeting held yesterday…

Despite the government’s calls for ‘peace talks’, humanitarian groups and official Karen political parties claim the Burma Army is still committing abuses against civilians in Eastern Burma. Representatives from the Karen National Union and Burma government officials have met several times recently to try to reach a ceasefire agreement. Civilian sources say while the politicians are talking the Burma Army…

The Karen National Union and the Pa’an Town-based Karen Peace Committee met on the Thai Burma border in early December to discuss recent ceasefire discussions held between the KNU and government officials. KNU representatives, led by general secretary Naw Zipporah Sein, met with three KPC members for more than three hours. KNU Forestry Minister, Padoh Saw Ah Toe said the…

The United National Federal Council claim in a statement released this week that President Thein Sein’s peace offer to ethnic armed groups is only an attempt to break up the unity of the UNFC. Naing Han Tha, general secretary of the UNFC said that the government peace offer is to divide ethnic alliance and it won’t lead anywhere. “They [Burma…

The Karen people are hopeful, yet cautious about the recent informal meeting between the Karen National Union and the Burmese government’s ceasefire talks. The KNU which has been lock in a civil war with a series of military governments for the 62 years, last Saturday and Sunday held informal talks with Burma government representatives led by Railway Transport Minister, U…

The Karen National Union denied they have entered into a ceasefire with the Burma government. In an official statement on the ‘Peace Talks’, dated 24th November, the KNU said. “Recent media reports that the Karen National Union (KNU) had agreed to a ceasefire with the Burmese regime, along with several other ethnic organizations, was false. The KNU team of three…

After four days of an emergency meeting of their senior leaders the Karen National Union has formed a seven member ‘Peace Committee’ to enter into peace talks with the Burma government. The meeting held from 8 to 11 November was attended by members of the KNU central executive committees, central standing committees, and representatives from seven KNLA Brigades and seven…

The Burma Army is sending extra troops, arms and food supplies to the Tavoy (Dawei) area in southern Burma in what local Karen says are signs that the government troops are about to launch a major offensive against the Karen National Union. A Karen National Union military source said that by the end of October, 20 Burma Army military trucks…