Karen News

On Monday 16 January, witnesses claim that the Nat Htate village headman and two villagers were taken at gunpoint from their homes by a group of unknown men in army uniforms. A villager, who asked not be named, spoke to Karen News about the incident. The villager said the headman, Saw Aye Paw, 45, and two other villagers, Saw Kaw…

The Burma government has been busy pushing its peace talk agenda with the country’s armed opposition groups. Last week, government ‘peace talk’ delegations held a series of meetings with Mon representatives, Kachin and members of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) on 17th January. The government’s delegation was led by former Karen State chairman, Colonel Saw Khin Soe, who…

Karen National Union delegates at last week’s ceasefire talks with the Burma government in Pa-an claim they were given assurances that the jailed KNU central committee member P’doh Mahn Nyein Maung would be released. The KNU says the Home Minister, Lt-Gen Ko Ko, contradicted the government’s promise when he briefed reporters last Saturday on the outcome of the ‘peacetalks’. “Legal…

Last week’s accord with the government brought the feeling that times are really changing in Burma, but bitter experiences of the past are prompting questions of why the KNU left the table without firm guarantees. It was a heart-pounding moment for many Karen around the world waiting to hear the outcomes of Thursday’s peace talks between the Karen National Union…

Ethnic leaders deny, that by negotiating peace deals with the Burma government they stand to gain personal and business benefits, as suggested in a media briefing by Railways Minister, Aung Min. Thursday last week, Burma Government representatives met with the Karen National Union delegation at Pa-an town, Karen state to discuss a ceasefire arrangement between the two warring sides. The…

The Karen National Union’s ‘peace talk’ delegation team, followed-up their Pa-an ceasefire discussions with a meeting with Burma’s s Vice President, Sai Mauk Kham in the country’s capital, Nay Pyi Daw. A member of the KNU delegation, Brigadier General Johnny and the Commander of the Karen National Liberation Army Brigade 7th area told Karen News about the delegations trip to…

A Burma government controlled newspaper, Kyaymon on the same day as peace talks with the Karen National Union accused them of a bomb explosion that killed civilians at a festival held in Anan Kwin village, Karen State. The newspaper reported that a man alleged, to be a KNU member, while taking money from his bag at the festival dropped a…

Following ceasefire talks with the Burma Government last week in Pa-an the Karen National Union issued a statement today to make clear their commitment to the peace process. The KNU, 19-member delegation, met with Railways Minister, U Aung Min, and representatives of the Burmese government on Thursday last week. The KNU statement explained that the two parties had agreed in…

The Karen National Union’s general secretary Naw Zipporah Sein and a member of the KNU’s Peace Committee said further talks would be needed with the Burma government representatives after yesterday’s meeting in Pa-an town, Karen State. KNU general secretary Naw Zipporah Sein told Karen News. “We signed an agreement with them [government] at the state level. This signed agreement is…

Yesterday, a 19-member Karen National Union delegation held talks with Burma government representatives, led by Railways Minister, Aung Min, in Pa-an, Karen State to discuss a ceasefire agreement. A KNU spokesperson confirmed to Karen News what the talks had achieved. “The KNU delegation reached an initial agreement with the Burma government’s representatives towards a ceasefire agreement. When the delegation returns…