Karen News

A Karen National Union delegation met with the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) in Cambodia last week to discuss about cooperation in the peace building process in Burma. The four-member-delegation led by Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, the KNU secretary, visited Cambodia from the 2nd to the 4th February, 2016 and met with CPSC officials to talk about…

A pick-up truck carrying a commander of the Border Guard Force and troops was attacked by an unknown armed group on the old Myawaddy-Kawkareik Road last week – no casualties were reported. The incident happened on the 2nd February, 2016 at about 4 pm when a pick-up truck ridden by the commander of the BGF battalion #1016 and his soldiers,…

The second term of the Karen State Parliament meeting is scheduled to start on 8 February, 2016 and the chairperson is expected to be a Member of State Parliament from the National League for Democracy. The Karen State Party’s chairperson, Nan Khin Htwe Myint, said that the NLD, which won the majority of votes in Karen State, will appoint a…

Burma community based groups working on child protection issues met to press the new government to recognize birth registrations recorded on the Thai Burma border and among migrant communities in Thailand. The Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (CPPCR), a community group working on child protection issues hosted a workshop on 1st February in the Thai border…

A book documenting the history of Karen Revolution was launched in Rangoon on January 31st to mark the 67th Karen Resistance Day. The Karen Youth group organized the event in honor of the Karen struggle for equality. Saw Tun Tun, from the Karen Youth group leader said that although the book is about the history of the Karen revolution, it…

Karen freedom fighters who served in the revolution for 50 years were awarded gold medals on the 31 of January during the celebrations for the 67th anniversary of the Karen Resistance Day. Padoh Saw Hla Tun, in charge of the organizing and information department of the Karen National Union said that the gold medals ceremony was included in a special…

Burma’s new parliament held its first sitting today – with Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party making up the majority of the ranks of parliamentarians present. The NLD won 77 % of the vote in nationwide elections on November 8 last year – including significant support in ethnic areas. Aung San Suu Kyi is widely respected by…

Preparations for the integration of five Karen political parties are now underway and it is planned that the five parties will unite within the year. The decision to be integrated was made at an integration meeting held on the 26th of January in Rangoon where 30 delegates from Plone Sawor Democratic Party (PSDP), Karen Democratic Party (KDP) and Karen State…

Ahead of the new NLD-dominated assembly, six newly elected MPs from five ethnic parties speak about their aspirations, what alliances they will form, and what drives them. YANGON (Myanmar Now) – The faces of Myanmar’s new Parliament, when it convenes in Napyitaw on February 1, will be almost unrecognisable when compared to the previous assembly. Few old faces have clung…

A human rights advocacy groups called for caution as Burma’s government released 52 political prisoners, stating that the situation is like a “revolving door” with hundreds still awaiting trial and fresh arrests. Burma’s government released 52 political prisoners this week. Yet human rights organisation Burma Campaign UK urged caution as political dissidents keep getting arrested. Burma Campaign UK referred to…