Karen News

People in the eastern Burma town of Kyain Seikgyi have welcomed a joint health campaign program by government and international malaria experts to combat malaria in the their area in Karen State. The township hospital director, Dr.Maung Maung Lwin, confirmed to Karen News that Population Services International-Myanmar (PSI), a global health non-government organization based in Burma is carrying out anti-malaria…

Leaders from the Karen and Mon ethnic armed groups have called for Burma’s law makers to put in place legislation to protect ethnic minority’s rights. This follows on the back of the Kutkai constituency representative, U Ti Khun Myat’s, proposal in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) to safeguard ethnic rights through the law. The Karen National Union’s vice chairman, Saw…

The Kayin People’s Party says that all Burma’s political parties, including ethnic parties are planning to meet with President Thein Sein in the next two weeks to discuss the government’s countrywide reforms. Dr Simon Tha, Vice-Chairman of KPP, confirmed with Karen News that the government is scheduling a series of meetings with all the country’s political parties. “We want to…

The Karenni National Progressive Party opened its first Liaison Office in Loi Kaw town, Karenni state on Wednesday July 25 to help achieve better official communication between the government and the KNPP. Khu Denia who was assigned as office-in-chief told Karen News that the new Liaison Office will try to work with the government to ensure the recently signed ceasefire…

Asian World Company, the biggest infrastructure and construction company in Burma says it will re-house a hundred families relocated from Htone Bo village, because of the construction of a hydro-power dam project on the Palet River. Htone Bo village is located 14 miles from Taungoo Town in Pago Division. Mr Ko Si Thu, an official from the Asian World Company…

Naw Dabora Htoo, education coordinator with the Karen Refugee Committee, said schoolteachers working in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border are long over due a pay rise, but this academic year they will get an increase in their monthly subsidy. Speaking to Karen News, Naw Dabora said camp teachers have deserved better pay for a long time. “We would like…

Yesterday a gas explosion at the Andaman Seafood Company factory in Ranong, Southern Thailand, injured 27 Burmese migrant workers and two Thai workers. A woman Burmese translator at Ranong Hospital said women workers wounded in the explosion were sent to the hospital in Ranong on the Thai Burma border – three of the woman is still receiving treatment at the…

It is early morning in Wa Su Ko village. It is quiet. Mist from the monsoon rains necklace the surrounding mountains. The small village is located east of the Burma town of Tavoy. A small boy dressed in a big, dirty white shirt and yellow shorts is carrying a traditional Karen bamboo fish basket trap. The boy is returning from…

The Thai-Burma border based Mae Tao Clinic has cut the number of its patients for referral due to budget shortages for the year 2012, according to senior staff at the clinic. Mae Tao Clinic also known as Dr. Cynthia’s Clinic, treats as many as 150,000 cases a year, most of its patients are from Burma or migrant workers. U Aung…

Villagers from Htee Poe Klone claim that their farmlands and community graveyard, north of Hpa-An Town were confiscated by government officials for industrial zone and for re settlement of Border Guard Force families. A villager said the government has not yet started the project, but villagers are barred from working on their farmlands. “They [government] won’t let us work our…