Karen News

Despite the peaceful ceremonies police in Rangoon arrested Karen organizers of the 2020 Martyrs’ Day commemoration held in Maha Bandula Park in central of the town where many Karen people in the region joined to pay tribute to the Martyrs pillar. During the event, police turned up and arrested two of the five youth organizers, Sa Thein Zaw Min and…

The Phan Foundation said Saw Hsa Nay Thaw was nominated by KSNG who described him as “a leader with ability and skills and a role model for students. His strong commitment, good work and leadership has contributed so much in Karen society, especially in the educational field.” The ceremony and announcement of the award was delayed due to the COVID-19…

KPSN said the “family and community need to know if justice has been done for the killing. KPSN said “there are strong doubts whether the trial was fairly conducted, given the military’s earlier claims that the soldiers killed Mu Naw ‘accidentally’.” The Burma Army said on August 2, two soldiers who robbed and killed Naw Mu Naw, a mother of…

By *Myra Dahgaypaw As far back as 1949, civilians have suffered at the hands of the Tatmadaw [military]. When the country opened its borders and declared a democratic transition, civilians hoped the situation would get better, but that has given way to disappointment as the Tatmadaw continued its abuses and horrors. Respective ethnic and civilian political leaders tried to fix the…

By Naw Poe Kler Before his assassination Saw ba U Gyi instructed Karen leaders of his manifesto based around three key points: 1) armed struggle; 2) political dialogue and a negotiated settlement with the Burmese government and 3) international intervention and arrangement on the Karen peoples’ behalf. The overall objective of the competition is to pay tribute to the Karen’s…

As many as 4,650 villagers from 114 villages in Papun Township marched from Taung Thone Lone [Burma Army outpost] to KaMaMaung on July 28, 2020. This is the second protest staged by villagers following the murder of a Karen woman by two Burma Army soldiers based in the area. Local sources said the two soldiers are the in custody, but…

The peaceful protests held in front of four Burma Army outposts located in the Thu Khu Hta village tract called for their withdrawal from the villages. The protest was triggered by the killing on July 16 by two Burma soldiers of Naw Mu Naw, a woman villager from Poe Lo Hta. The soldiers stole the dead woman’s jewelry before fleeing…

Naw Mu Naw, a 40 years old and mother of three, from Po Lo Hta village in Papun (Mutraw) district in the Northern Karen State, was shot and killed at her home by two Burma army soldiers who also stole her jewellery. The two soldiers, identified as private Than Soe Lwin and Hein Min Htet from Ku Thu Hta (Hla…

The British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, announced on July 6, 2020 sanctions against 49 people from Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and Burma. Two high-ranking generals from Burma – Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services and Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Commander-in-Chief of Burma Army are named in the list. The sanctions would mean these individuals would be…

The Covid-19 screening post located in KNU controlled territory was burnt by the Burma Army in May. The screening post was rebuilt and is now operating after officials from both the KNU and Burma Army reached an agreement. The screening point was suspended shortly after reopening on June 25 after a request from the Burma Army. A Back Pack Health…