Karen News

The unconnected death of two refugee women within a month at a refugee camp on the Thai Burma border has triggered fears about the security of women living in the camps. Mae La Refugee Camp officials found the decomposed body of missing elderly refugee woman near the camp on Monday. The dead woman was identified as Daw Gyin Myiang, 78…

In a move praised by local and international rights groups, Burma’s government, led by ex-general Thein Sein, has released 56 political prisoners. However, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) noted in a statement to the media that 133 political prisoners were still languishing in the country’s prisons. “Their release does not officially acknowledge their political status and ensures they…

A Japanese aid agency has promised to provide low-interest loans to the Mon State government for road building and other infrastructure projects. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is to finance the reconstruction of a small road that runs between Tarana village in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State and Chaungnakhwa village in Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State, into an all weather…

The human rights situation in Burma is moving too slowly, says Fortify Rights a non-profit human rights organization based in Southeast Asia, with positive political progress being undermined by a festering civil war in the country’s north. “Positive political changes have come to Burma but the human rights situation is deeply concerning,” said Matthew Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights.…

Government Minister wants to build a village to house returning refugees. U Zaw Min, the chief minister of Karen State, proposed to the Karen National Union’s (KNU) Thaton District on September 28, that he would like to build a village in Hpa An area for refugees living on the Thai border to return to. Saw Aung Thaung Thein, from the…

Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party the National League for Democracy held a public meeting in Karen State to discuss changes to the National Constitution that was put in place by the country’s former military dictatorship. A central committee member of the NLD, Nan Khin Htwe Myint and local members invited the public to meeting at the Royal Lake Hall…

A number of international governments, organisations and individuals try to squeeze the current situation of the Karen people into a narrow, restrictive and simplistic narrative that is usually framed like this. ‘After more than sixty years of conflict, at last the Karen have peace. There has been a ceasefire for almost two years, the Karen National Union and government of…

The Karen Department of Health and Welfare continues to push the Burma government to recognize its community health workers and to extend its health service. In its recent meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on 30 September, the Karen Department of Health and Welfare discussed with Dr. Thein Thein Htay, the deputy Minister of Health and member of his department. The…

The Karen National Union (KNU), a leading ethnic armed and political organizations currently in peace talks with the Burma government, has been giving out mixed signals about a nationwide ceasefire that is being pushed by the government Minister U Aung Min. Naw K’nyaw Paw, the Secretary of the Karen Women Organization (KWO), interviewed Lieutenant General Baw Kyaw Heh, the Vice…

The use of ‘section 18’ – also known as the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law – to punish and restrict activist’s highlights the lack of rule of law in Burma, with the Burma based human rights group the Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) highlighting cases of abuse of the law and urging immediate judicial reform. Karen News can…