Karen News

Over 5,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myaing Gyi Ngu in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State have run out of food since July 6 and they are in immediate need of rice and other food supplies, officials from the IDP camp said. Saw Tun, an official in-charge of food supply at Myaing Gyi Ngu IDP camp, said the IDPs consume 21…

The National Ethnic Youth Alliance (NEYA) released a statement on July 4 to denounce the government for taking action and using violence in the crackdown against ethnic Karenni (Kayah) youths who were protesting against the plan to erect Bogyoke Aung San statue in the Karenni State’s capital Loikaw. The NEYA denounces the government for charging ten Karenni youths with defamation…

Children from 21 villages in Karen State will reap the benefits from an Australia family’s wish to make their father’s 70th birthday extra special. David Ziegler from Sydney, Australia wanted to make Martin, his father’s 70th birthday memorable. David contacted Kanchana Thornton, the director of the Burma Children Medical Fund to see if there was a project he could support…

The Ei Tu Hta IDP Supporting Committee issued a statement on June 25 to urge the government to address the root causes of displacement before closing down internally displaced person (IDP) camps. The committee’s spokesperson Padoh Mahn Mahn Mahn said concerns have been raised after the Union Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye talked about…

UHM Development Co., Ltd has won a tender on June 21 to build an international standard shopping mall (plaza) in the Karen State’s capital Hpa-an. “Our company, which received the highest mark, has been selected. We believe our company was selected because we consider the needs of Hpa-an residents, how useful it (the shopping mall) will be for them and…

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it has never encouraged the refugees living at the Thai-Myanmar border to return home and it has only provided necessary assistance. The UNHCR (Hpa-an office) head Ms. Maureen McBrien said this during the World Refugees Day ceremony on June 20. “The UNHCR can only work in Myanmar under an invitation from…

Karen community living in Minnesota, U.S. will call for equal rights to education like other races at the Minnesota Capitol on June 15. Speaking to the Karen News on June 14, the Karen Community of Minnesota (KCM) leader Morrison Johnny said the KCM will lead the Karen Advocacy Day and demand to meet with state government officials. “We will collect…

Officials from the Karen National Political Dialogue Coordination Committee said they have prepared for upcoming third session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong by recollecting the opinions gathered from the Karen national political dialogue and holding a meeting to approve them. A meeting was held at the Karen National Union (KNU) headquarters in Law Khee Lar (Laywah),…

Residents of Mae-ka-ne Village under the Karen State’s Myawaddy Township held a peaceful demonstration on June 10 morning to demand the return of the farmlands that have been grabbed for development project. The protest leader Naw Htoo Htoo said over 300 residents marched from Mae-ka-ne Village Sakhan Gone to Shwe Mya Sandi Thaba Thukha Pagoda during the protest. “This area…

The Karen Entrepreneurs Association will be established in July with the aim to develop Karen youth entrepreneurs, according to the Yangon Region Karen Literature and Culture Committee (KLCC), which is organizing the association. Yangon Region KLCC’s joint secretary – 1 Saw Bo Bo Wai Maung said the Karen Entrepreneurs Association will be established with Karen entrepreneurs from across the country…