Karen News

The meeting held at the Palu Gyi village temple on June 5th was attended by troops funded by the military-appointed State Administration Council and included the Border Guard Force militia, sponsored and under the control of the Burma Army, DKBA soldiers and local villagers. General Saw Steel alleged at the meeting the Junta’s opponents were using the war as a…

The statement warned ASEAN and UN are at risk of being conspirators in the Military’s State Administration Council plans to use humanitarian aid as a weapon. The Civil Society Alliance warned if ASEAN and the UN continue to work with the Military Council on aid assessments, due to start in June, those communities in desperate need of humanitarian assistance would…

The execution of the four political prisoners – Phyo Zeya Thaw, Ko Jimmy, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw – was confirmed by the military regime’s spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun when he speaking to local media. The Democratic Voice of Burma reported, Zaw Min Tun told the Voice of Myanmar, the executions would go ahead. “They will be executed…

Villagers said Burma Army soldiers, stationed at Khale-Tagundaing police station, Kyar In Seik Kyi Township, Karen State, fired artillery shells into Nang Thaing Tun village at around 3 pm on May 29th, Ma Zin Oo, 33, was cooking in the kitchen, located at the back of her house, when an artillery shell exploded near a banana groove behind the house.…

Saw Doe Doh Eh K’lu explained to Karen News what the health problems the displaced people are now facing. “The most common symptoms found in IDPs are the common cold and fever. Some people also have diarrhea. They desperately need warm clothing and mosquito nets. It’s not possible for IDPs to boil water, so they are using rainwater as their…

The employees, members of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) have instead continued to show their opposition to the coup and instead cooperated with the interim education program run by the National Unity Government (NUG). Despite the State Military Council’s deadline of May 31st for education staff absent from duties to return to their positions at the Department of Education, most…

A villager told Karen News, BGF released the civilian hostages at the same time the BGF left Lay Kay camp. The villagers told Karen News. “People from Kyauk Pya village arrested and held in Lay Kay, have now been released. General Maung Chit’s group [the BGF] sent the local people back to their village. The BGFs are no longer in…

An aid worker helping the displaced people, living in makeshift tents on the river bank, said the villagers now face acute shelter and food problems. The aid worker spoke to Karen News about the problems. “As it’s raining both day and night, the Thaung Yin River completely flooded where the IDPs had been staying. Sacks of rice stored on the…

Even though Thailand announced its Thai-Burma border gates would reopen on May 1, only about 1,000 people have been allowed to enter through the Myawaddy Friendship Bridge No. 2 under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries. Since the border bridge officially remains closed, hundreds of people are being arrested daily. A migrant worker activist said most Burmese…

The KNU explained to Karen News that any meaningful dialogue or any attempts to broker peace talks with the military-appointed State Administration Council would not be transparent or accountable without the international community being involved. KNU’s spokesperson, Padoh Saw Taw Nee, told Karen News. “Without the involvement of the international community, there would be no truth, respect, or dignity in…