Karen News

Karen Police burned confiscated methamphetamine tablets and opium in its attempts to fight illicit drug use. The Karen National Police Force (KNPF) under the Interior Department of the Karen National Union in Doo Pla Ya District, destroyed thousands of methamphetamine tablets (Ya Ma) and opium in an attempt to decrease the use of drugs in the area. Over ten thousand…

Over 3,000 people attended the funeral of veteran Karen revolutionary leader in Myit Kyoe Village of Bilin Township, Mon State on February 27. Col. Saw Ye Din, former operations commander of the KNLA Brigade 1 under the Karen National Union (KNU), passed away at the age of 78 on February 24. The KNLA Brigade 1’s commander Brig-Gen Saw Kyaw Lin,…

Tension is high after fighting between soldiers from the Karen National Union and the New Mon State Party in Ye Township the last weekend. It adds to government concerns as both ethnic armies are signatories to the National Ceasefire Agreement. The fighting took place on February 24 near Man-aung village in Win Ye Township between troops from the KNU’s armed…

Local residents will make demands to the Union Government if the Mon State Government fails to meet their demands on Min Lwin (Maw Lay) Mountain project in Thaton Township, Mon State. “The company is working together with the government. We have submitted to the Mon State Government to resolutely stand on our side after learning about the negative consequences of…

Thirty-six environmental civil society organizations (CSOs) issued a joint statement on February 20 to express deep concerns over the government’s plans to resume the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which has been suspended since U Thein Sein Administration, in November 2013. U Bo Bo Aung, Spokesperson for the CSOs’ statement, said the governments of Burma, Thailand, and Japan and the…

The public needs to be aware of the code of conduct that must be observed by both the Tatmadaw and the ethnic armed group[s] during the ceasefire period, according to Col. Win Naing Oo, Mon State Minister of Security and Border. He said this remark at the recent meeting between the State-level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC-S) and the public,…

Women Leadership Sector and Gender Equality Workshop and CSO meeting has been held at Hotel Gabbana in Karen State’s Capital Hpa-an on February 20-21 with the aim to introduce the civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Karen State and share their activities and boost networking. “The organizations from this area will exchange their experiences and give advices on how to…

Over 1,000 Myanmar migrant workers from Golden File gem-polishing workshop in Bang Wang Takhian Village in the Thai border town of Mae Sot launched a strike on February 14 over the issue of not receiving full wage and getting their wages cut off for document fees. “They don’t give us full wage. They only give us 230 baht per day…

A statue of Karen martyr Saw Ba U Gyi received a tumultuous welcome from local residents in Naung Tal Village under the Karen National Union (KNU)-controlled area in the Mon State’s Kyaikmaraw Township on February 3. The statue is scheduled for installation at the KNU’s Win Yay Township office in Win Yaw area (Kyain-seikgyi Township) of the Karen State on…

Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director, Human Rights Watch issued a statement following Associated Press’s reporting on the discovery of additional Rohingya mass graves in Rakhine State. Mr Robertson said on the 1 February,that AP’s reporting had raised “…the stakes for the international community to demand accountability from Myanmar. The AP’s report that Tatmadaw [Burma Army] soldiers brought along to Gu…