Karen News

Local residents of Lun Nya Village have demanded Chit Linn Myaing Company to withdraw the rock quarry project at the Lun Nya Mountain in Hpa-an Township, Karen State after the company has produced rocks from all permitted amount of suds even though the project duration is not over. The local residents made the demand to Col Saw Chit Thu from…

Displaced families, fleeing the fighting in northern Karen State, crossed into Thailand to find safety, but were turned away by camp authorities at the Mae Ra Ma Luang refugee camp last week. The three families, consisting of 16 people were from the Papun area of Northern Karen State were forced to go after authorities refused to approve their pleas to…

A committee for drafting the ethnic media policy has been established for the sustainability of ethnic media during the Sixth Ethnic Media Conference. Narinjara News’s chief editor U Khaing Mrat Kyaw told Karen News that the decision was made during the Sixth Ethnic Media Conference, which was held at Zwekabin Hall in Hpa-an, Karen State on April 27-29 under the…

Burma migrant workers and labor activists from Thailand’s Tak Province at the Thai-Burma border have urged Burma and Thai governments to assist them in getting full labor rights under the Thai law. A ceremony marking the 128th anniversary of the International Workers’ Day was held at Mae Tao Ward in Mae Sot, Tak Province in Thailand on May 1. U…

Millions of workers around the world will take to the streets and city parks to commemorate May Day 2018. Workers will rally and march to show their solidarity and support for their workplace rights. May Day celebrations, also known as International Workers Day started in Chicago in 1886, when workers demanded and won an eight-hour workday, today it will be…

A report released by Legal Aid Network in April 2018, accuses the Burma Army of acting with impunity in three ethnic states – northern Shan State, Karenni State and Kachin State. The report – Seeking Accountability for Ending Impunity in Burma, Analysis of War Crimes – details a number of incidents against civilians that Legal Aid Network alleged amount to…

Local residents want the authorities to build a bridge over the Win Yaw River to connect the eastern side of the river with Kale-Tagundaing administrative unit in Win Yaw area under Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen State. Kwankathaung Village Administrator U Tin Win Aung told Karen News on April 23 that the residents from over 20 villages in the eastern side of…

A new town established by the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Karen State government for displaced residents in Myawaddy District, Karen State is currently suffering from water shortage. Water is distributed to Lay Kay Kaw New Town (Myothit) through the pipelines from Taung Kone (locally known as Kyauk Gu), which is around three miles from the new town. The…

Myanmar government and ethnic armed organizations including the Karen National Union (KNU) have signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), but clashes have broken out in the area controlled by the KNU’s armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 5. The KNLA’s Vice Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Saw Baw Kyaw Heh shared his views and opinions on this issue.…

The Shan Human Right Foundation released a statement detailing the brutal rape of a 73-year-old woman by a Burma Army soldier near Mong Phyak Town in eastern Shan State, on April 2, 2018 The Shan Human Right Foundation said the rape and knifing of the elderly woman “highlights the vulnerability of women amid the heavy Burma Army presence in this…