Karen News

For the last nine months the people of Burma have been battered by the military, left to struggle without healthcare protection against COVID-19 – thousands died. While soldiers and police terrorized urban civilians, the military’s warplanes and helicopters delivered airstrikes and the Burma Army ground attacks on ethnic villagers, displacing as many as 200,000 people. As of the 20th October,…

The KNU, an ethnic armed organization and a signatory of the NCA, issued its statement pressuring the military to issue an official declaration of its commitment to a federal democracy and to withdraw from politics. The KNU said the NCA presented many challenges throughout its implementation process, but the worst was when the military staged its coup on February 1,…

A KNU source confirmed to Karen News the Burma Army has begun to fire heavy artillery into civilian areas. The KNU source said Burma Army troops sent to Hpapun-Kamamong area are from the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 404 and LIB (406) that come under the Military Operations Command #8. The 5th Brigade, Karen National Liberation Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Saw…

In early September 2021, Thaton Districts villagers reported while mobile phone networks were shut down the Burma Army and its militia, the Border Guard Force (BGF) increased its attacks. Saw Kay*, a community leader said as soon as mobile networks were blocked on September 16, the Burma Army and BGF soldiers subjected villagers to a campaign of terror. “MPT, Telenor…

Most international NGO’s have fled Burma, leaving local community groups to do the best they can with limited resources. A briefing paper published on October 4, 2021 – No where to run: Deepening Humanitarian Crisis in Burma – highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Kachin, Karen, Karenni (Kayah), Chin and Rakhine States. The briefing paper, the work of 10 civil…

Naw Htoo Htoo, program director at the Karen Human Rights Group, voiced her concerns and explained to Karen News why the killing of Mohibullah has highlighted the lack of protection for human rights defenders. “We support the call for investigation into the assassination of Mohibullah and at the same time call for justice brought to his case.” Naw Htoo Htoo…

During the last week of September, money exchanges offered 2,700 Kyat to the US dollar compared to 1,695 on the 1st September. The local currency began falling immediately after the military launched its coup against the democratically elected government on 1st February. When the military-appointed State Administration Council took control of the country, the Kyat traded at 1,395 to the…

Unknown gunmen shot and killed Mohib Ullah, 46, the chair of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH). Mohib Ullah documented atrocities committed by the Burma Army and security forces against the Rohingya people and it is known he was subject to a number of death threats for his advocacy. Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia director at…

Padoh Saw Hser Pwe, the Congress implementation committee chairperson, who is also a KNU joint secretary, confirmed to Karen News that the surge of COVID-19 in KNU controlled territories has caused the six-month delay. Padoh Saw Hser Pwe said the committee is closely monitoring the pandemic to gauge when they can safely hold the Congress. The Congress is held every…

Villagers from Kyate (Kli) village are fearful for their security now Burma Army soldiers have taken up positions in their homes, underneath houses and at the local monastery. Villagers told Karen News, Burma Army and its militia, the Border Guard Force (BGF) returned to Kyate (Kli) village after abandoning their camp on August 21, after it had been destroyed by…