Karen News

In recent days, the junta has carried out surprise abductions of young people around Dagon-Ayar Highway Bus Station in Hlaingthaya Township, Yangon Region, primarily targeting those traveling from the Ayeyarwady Region to Yangon, according to a witness. “Just yesterday, we saw junta soldiers arresting young people coming into Yangon from the Ayeyarwady Region. Some were extorted by the soldiers, and…

Normally, schools in Myanmar, including in Kawkareik District’s Kyondoe Township, should re-open in June for the start of the new academic year, after shutting for the long holidays at the beginning of March, the end of last academic year. But, in Kyondoe Township, an area mainly controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU), fighting between the junta and a resistance…

An aid worker helping people in Thayetchaung Township said: “With tensions rising in Thayetchaung Township, it looks like the junta is aiming to block supply lines to resistance forces.” Soldiers at the checkpoints have been targeting food deliveries to shops restaurants and other places. Travellers are allowed to take enough food for them and their families, but if they have…

Fortunately no one was killed or injured in the airstrike as the hospital was empty, because the hospital had closed due to previous junta attacks. A resident of Hpalaungtaung Village said to KIC: “The bombing occurred around 11:20 pm. I also heard what seemed like a series of gunshots after the explosion. The bomb hit the hospital, which is located…

The statement (in Burmese) revealed that since the February 2021 coup seven journalists have been killed in Myanmar. It named them as: freelance reporters Ko Lin Lin Tun, Phoe Thiha (aka Myat Thu Tun) and Htet Myat Thu; freelance photojournalist Ko Soe Naing; the editor of the Federal journal, Sai Kay (aka Sai Win Aung); the editor-in-chief and founder of…

During April 2025, junta and resistance forces have been fighting in Kunseik Village and the surrounding areas in Shwegyin Township, also in Bago Region, but across the Sittwe River from Waw Township, Artillery has also been fired between the two townships. Explaining why they advised villagers to flee, a spokesperson for Waw PDF said: “Given the current military situation, villages…

Following the 28 March 7.7 magnitude earthquake that had its epicentre a few miles west of Mandalay City, the junta declared a unilateral ceasefire to run from 2 to 22 April. On the final day of that ceasefire, 22 April, the junta announced that the ceasefire would be extended to 30 April. On 23 April 2025, the New Mon State…

The KWO has evolved into a powerful force for change, with its membership now exceeding 70,000 women. In 2023 alone, more than 140,582 women, men, and children were counted as direct beneficiaries of their programs. Operating across seven Karen National Union (KNU) Districts inside Burma and seven refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border, the organization has built an impressive infrastructure…

Since the beginning of April 2025, junta-appointed administrative officials from Hpa-An City’s Ward 4 have been demanding that young women pay 5,000 MMK and young men pay 30,000 MMK to a ‘conscription fund’ to ensure they will not be conscripted. A young woman from Hpa-An’s Ward 4 said to KIC: “Four ward administration officials came to our house. We thought…

On 16 April, the final day of the traditional Myanmar Thingyan Water Festival that celebrates the beginning of the new year from 13 to 16 April, junta airstrikes hit seven villages in Kawakareik Township, Karen State. On the morning of 16 April airstrikes hit the Kawkareik Township villages of Laytaing, Inngyi and Tharyakone. No casualties were reported, but Aungchanthar Monastery…