Karen News

The advocacy group, Burma Campaign UK released a statement that “welcomed a new report by the British government,” that acknowledged ‘Burma’s reforms process was ‘of significant concern. The Burma Campaign UK said that the British government’s “admission came in the annual human rights report by the British Foreign Office, following a months’ long campaign by Burma Campaign UK to persuade…

Two Karen political parties have expressed their concern over the violent crackdown on student protesters saying the government’s use of force will not solve the problem and it could be a setback for the country’s reforms. The Plone-Sawow Democratic Party (PSDP) and the Karen Democratic Party (KDP) officially voiced their concerns over the police forcibly dispersing protesting students at Letpandan…

Fighting between government troops and soldiers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army broke out yesterday, March 11 at around 2 pm near Kawkareik Town. DKBA sources confirmed to Karen News that the fighting was between the government’s Light Infantry Battalion 231, under its Military Operation Command 12, based at Kyaung Sha Gon and Ywa Thit villages, four miles south of…

Karen women commemorated International Women’s Day by paying tribute to the many women who fought for justice and equality. Naw Marry Htay, chairperson of Karen Women Organization Dooplaya district spoke to Karen News about what the day meant to her. “On this special day, I would like to say that it is important [the ability of] our women are recognized.…

The Karen National Union, currently holding peace talks with the government, issued a statement supporting protesters opposed to the new National Education Bill, approved by the country’s parliament, but yet to be ratified by President U Thein Sein. The KNU said in its statement that the government’s use of force against ‘peaceful’ protesters is excessive. “The security forces are using…

The Shan Human Rights Foundation have documented a series of shootings, murders, tortures that they said have happened in Shan State during the recent armed conflict between the Burma Army and the Kokang militia. The Shan Human Rights Foundation withheld the names of the people for security reasons. “February 13, 2015 around 4 pm two women, one aged 76 and…

A Karen Human Right Groups report released on March 2nd accuses the Burma Army of targeting villagers with artillery shells in Northern Karen State. KHRG allege the government’s military directed its artillery bombardment on villagers in Papun Township. The KHRG report said that Burma Army indiscriminately fired artillery shells towards where villagers in the Saw Muh Plaw village tract were…

A Shan Human Rights Foundation spokesperson in an interview with Karen News said that thousands of civilians displaced by the Burma Army have fled to the China border. “The situation is very tense. People are scared. They are scared of the Burma Army being in their villages. Only the very old have stayed behind.” Shan Human Rights Foundation spokesperson said…

The Shan Human Rights Foundation claim they have collected evidence that proves that the Burma army is murdering and torturing civilians in the Kokang area of Shan state. In a statement released Wednesday, 4th March Shan Human Rights Foundation said. “Burma Army soldiers have been indiscriminately shooting at civilians, causing injury and death; have used civilians as hostages for ambush;…

The excitement of having a new primary school to learn in did not last long for students from Htee Klo Thaw village in Hlaingbwe Township, as their newly built school was burnt to the ground by unknown persons, just six days after its opening ceremony. The Karen Community Based Network Group, a group that coordinated the funding for the new…