Karen News

The Karen National Union’s vice-chairperson, Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, concludes a three part exclusive interview with Karen News. Naw Zipporah Sein stressed that a nationwide ceasefire is not possible while there is still ongoing conflict and displacement in ethnic states. “How can we sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement while fighting is still going on in the Kachin and northern Shan…

In a part two of an exclusive interview with Karen News, the Karen National Union’s vice-chairperson, Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, explains why it is crucial that a code-of-conduct for the Burma Army and the Karen Army is needed. Naw Zipporah Sein urged that a code-of-conduct has to be signed before the peace talks can move to the next stage. “One…

In an exclusive three-part interview with Karen News, the Karen National Union’s vice-chairperson, Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, voiced her concerns that the government is rushing to sign a nationwide ceasefire without regard for the on-the-ground realities of ongoing armed conflict in ethnic areas or of failing to complete its obligations agreed to in previous peace talk meetings. Naw Zipporah Sein…

A senior member of the Karen National Union (KNU) told a public meeting that the Burmese government and ethnic armed groups plan to sign nationwide ceasefire by November. P’doh Mahn Nyein Maung, a central executive committee member, was speaking at a public meeting at its headquarter in Brigade 7 to update Karen people and KNU members of teh KNU’s on-going…

The Burma Army reneged on an agreement it had with the Karen National Union and arrested two Karen soldiers for collecting taxes at a temporary checkpoint. The two soldiers, from the Karen National Liberation Army Brigade 2, based in the Taungoo District were arrested while on checkpoint duty, by the Burma Army on October 1. Padoh Saw Eh Wah, the…

Food rations for refugees living in the seven refugee camps on the Thai border will be reduced due to funding cuts by international aid organizations. Refugees will get reduced food rations from November 2013. In an exclusive interview with Karen News refugees tell how they will cope with less food. Saw Roger, now in his 60’s has been a Mae…

Advocacy groups claim government’s mining decision derailing country’s democratic progress. The Molo Women Mining Watch Network (MWMWN) and the Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN) today strongly condemned the government of Burma’s decision to grant mining contracts inside Karenni State, an ongoing zone of conflict. The two advocacy groups said the decision highlighted how Burma’s reformist government, led by ex-general Thein…

The head of Burma’s military met with members of the Karen armed resistance in the country’s capital to discuss how the ceasefire between the two could be progressed. The meeting is seen by ethnic leaders as a move by the government to acknowledge the Karen National Union (KNU) as a necessary component in the country’s political future. The delegation met…

A local rights group, the Tavoyan Women’s Union (TWU), releases video it claims shows how Thai and Burmese developers of the Dawei deap-sea mega project are abusing villagers’ rights. The video purports to show how the beauty of the Tavoyan coast is being destroyed by the massive port and industrial zone that has been in the planning since 2008. After…

The jailing of 10 activists by Burma’s government was slammed by regional human rights groups who accused the government of muscling out local villagers in favor of multinational development projects. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), that represents 47 member organizations from 16 nations across Asia, has criticized Burma’s decision to throw 10 rights activists in prison.…