Karen News

A Kyondoe resident reported seeing about 20 individuals in black uniforms positioned covertly near the Chaung Phya Bridge at the town’s exit. He added that the BGF faction led by Bo Myat Hlaing and his brother Myint Aung have deployed additional troops in nearby areas like Chauk Taing, Yaybu Shit Taing, and Koe Taing, where they have also set up…

The groups doing this are the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) Border Guard Force (BGF) under Bo Bi and the junta-aligned Karen (KNU/KNLA) Peace Council (KPC) who previously signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the Myanmar Army. Fighters from both forces are backing up junta soldiers manning checkpoints and entrances and exits to various villages and towns in Karen…

According to people assisting the displaced people (IDPs) in Myawaddy Town, junta troops launched an offensive from Myawaddy Town to recapture its four bases in Thingannyinaung Village Tract. They are the Thingannyinaung strategic base and the bases of Light Infantry Battalions (LIBs) 355, 356 and 357, which are currently occupied by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied people’s…

Since 15 August 2024, the warship has been patrolling off the coast from the junta’s Theapon Taung military base and further west off the coast of Thabawtseik Village. It has been firing into the villages of Thabawtseik, Pyingyi, and Kayingyi almost daily, according to a Launglon Township resident. He said to KIC: “The warship fire shells almost every day, seemingly…

This followed protests by Myanmar workers and negotiations to re-open the crossing between relevant parties, according to sources on the border. The border gate was closed on 17 June 2024 by the authorities on both sides of the border. Due to the disruptions to travel and the flow of goods caused by the closure, workers in Myanmar staged protests on…

The 15 August 2024 meeting was held to discuss the ongoing Myanmar crisis according to a 17 August statement by the KNU Central Executive Committee (KNU Central). It focused on key topics such as strengthening unity in the pursuit of a federal democratic system, enhancing civil service operations, and coordinating humanitarian initiatives. During the talks, Mr. Sullivan reiterated the United…

From 5 to 9 August, fierce fighting between the junta and resistance forces along with heavy artillery fire in the Zayatgyi area of Tantabin Township, where Kinmunchon Village is located, caused over 2,000 residents to flee to safer areas. The villages they fled from included: Kinmunchon, Doetan, PuKanKwe, NatYwar, HnitTantKu, and ThuHtayKone. During the fighting in the Zayatgyi area the…

According to camp officials new arrivals to the camps have been questioned by the Thai authorities since the February 2021 coup. New arrivals fear being questioned by the authorities, so many of them choose to avoid the questioning by leaving the camps and either returning to Myanmar or relocating to other areas of Thailand, according to an official from Mae…

Junta soldiers have a list of the people who have been conscripted and since 7 August soldiers and police officers have stepped up their efforts to track down the people on the list in all of the six downtown wards of Kyaikto Town A Kyaikto resident said to KIC: “Soldiers and police are moving through each ward, searching for people…

There are high levels of crime in the border town, which is home to a diverse population from various ethnic groups. For instance, a married couple who sold cars went missing and in recent days at least two delivery drivers have gone missing and not been heard from, according to locals. A resident of Myawaddy said: “People frequently go missing,…