Karen News

An alliance of democracy activists and civil society organizations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region called for international diplomats to pressure the Burma government and its high ranking military generals to stop its offensives in the north of the country. The alliance of civil society, health and pro democracy groups released a media joint statement today demanding…

A Karen restaurant has opened in Rangoon with the objective to introduce traditional dishes to the public. The owner, Sa Khwa Khwa said his restaurant, Non Tae Ya [The Flag], plans to introduce traditional Karen food to the market, and said it will be the first restaurant to do so. Sa Khwa Khwa restaurant opened for business on Tuesday June…

Karen education officials warn cuts to refugee camp programs are forcing schools to close. Higher education schools in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border are running out of funding, are struggling to keep open and face pressure to relocate back to Burma. Officials from the Karen Refugee Committee Education Entity- KRCEE told Karen News that some Kaw Thoo Lei Higher…

The Karen National Union’s Agriculture Department will give priority to assist the public in obtaining their land ownership rights and solve land issues that rose up in the mixed controlled areas within this year. The department made the decision during its 12th year-end meeting held at Kalo Yaw Hta under Hpa-an District on May 30. Local residents from the KNU-controlled…

Over 1,000 teachers need to be recruited after the Ministry of Education upgraded 261 government schools in the Karen State within this month, according to the state education officer U Soe Myint. Nine high schools, ten high school branches, 53 middle schools, 21 middle school branches, 31 post-primary schools, 99 primary schools, and 38 primary school branches have been upgraded…

The Australian Karen Organisation wrote to Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop to ask her to use her position to pressure Burma’s government and its Army to immediately withdraw its soldiers from ethnic regions. The AKO explained in its letter to Ms Bishop, that “despite the efforts of the International Community to endorse genuine peace, the Burmese Military have increased their…

The Karen Youth Organization (KYO)’s chair Saw Ler Ner has urged more cooperation between ethnic youths in the situation where Burma’s political transition cannot guarantee basic rights of ethnic people. “We are still fighting the battles using the political movement to obtain national equality and self-determination. As we were ruled by the British under the divide and rule [policy], there…

The Australian Karen Organization rallied outside the Burmese Embassy in Canberra to protest against the Burma Army’s recent attacks on villages in Karen State. Members of the Australian Karen community travelled from Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne to protest. The Australian Karen organization said in a media statement that the Canberra demonstration was part of a Global Karen Protest against attacks…

The Kachin Woman’s Association Thailand issued a statement on May 15, 2018 contradicting claims made by Burma Army commanders that recent offensives against the Kachin Independence Army did not target civilians. The statement said KWAT interviews with displaced people had “revealed in April 2018 Burma Army troops committed war crimes against villagers in three townships in Kachin State: Hpakant, Danai…

Despite Burma Army promises to withdraw its soldiers and stop a construction of a contentious road at the center of the military conflict, thousands displaced villagers are unable to return to their villages in northern Karen State. In an interview with Karen News, Padoh Saw Tender, chairperson of the Karen National Union’s Mutraw (Papun) district said that although the road…