Karen News

The Karen State government is now making arrangements for the first return of 96 residents – 19 families – who have been living in refugee camps on the Thai border. The families are set to cross the Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge tomorrow. Nan Khin Htwe Myint, Chief Minister of Karen State on October 25, visited temporary accommodation for the returning refugees,…

Leaders from the Karen National Union and the News Mon State Party agreed more effort is needed to prevent territorial disputes between the two groups. Both parties met on October 15, at an undisclosed location on the Thai-Burma border to discuss their concerns about territory. The latest disputes resulted in armed conflict between the two ethnic armed groups in early…

Soldiers from the breakaway Democratic Karen Buddhist Army clashed with the government militia, the Border Guard Force, in Htee Poe Zan village tract near Kawkareik at noon on October 19. The fighting between the DKBA soldiers and the BGF battalion 1017 lasted around 40 minutes, according to local villagers. Major Saw Deedee, Battalion Commander of BGF 1017 confirmed the fighting…

The Karen National Union (KNU) executive committee issued a letter of condolence on the passing of His Majesty the King of Thailand. The Karen National Union said it its letter that it was “deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On this sad occasion, the Karen National Union would like to express its…

Despite some educational reform taking place in Burma, ethnic education workers claim that equal opportunity for them will only be possible when the country’s education system is decentralized. Padoh Saw Lah Say, Head of the Karen Education Department, the educational wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) made the point during the World’s Teachers Day on October 5th in Thay…

Local residents and community leaders gathered to meet with local press at Zayat Phyu village on October 8, to express their opposition against the proposed coal power plant to supply electricity for the No.2 Myaing Galay cement plant near Hpa-an. On the mid-September 2016, the villagers were informed by officials from the Ministry of Energy and from the cement plant…

Professor Desmond Ball, academic, military strategist and author of more than 40 books on military intelligence, died today at 3:35pm Australian time. Des work was impressive. He spent time inside US top secret nuclear and command centres, advising the CIA, the White House and the Pentagon, where he persuaded them that a limited nuclear war was impossible. Former US President…

The Free Burma Rangers, a frontline humanitarian organization, released a report detailing the recent use of jet fighters by the Burma Army against the Kachin Independent Army. The FBR said that on October 7 “two Burma Army fighter jets dropped four bombs on Gidon Post” while Burma Army ground troops “advanced on Gidon Post, but they were pushed back by…

Burma and Thai officials have agreed to extend the permit of stay from one day to seven days for people traveling with their temporary border pass between the neighboring countries. The Myawaddy-Mae Sot border gateway is a major crossing for trade routes between Thailand and Burma. Under the new agreement between the two countries, travelers who cross the border from…

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) returning to their former villages are being sued for trespass by the Asia World and Shwe Padonmar companies who claim the land was given to them for palm oil plantations. Residents of Kyay Zuu Taw Village in the Hnam Kyal Village Group of Yebyu Township and residents of Ban Mae and Tone Byaw villages in Myeik…