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Local residents who have fled from the recent fighting in the Karen National Union’s Mu Traw [Hpapun] District held a prayer service for peace at Ler Kho Village of Ler Mu Plaw Village-tract in Lu Thaw Township on March 19 and called on the Tatmadaw to withdraw its troops. Around 1,000 residents from over 20 villages in Ler Mu Plaw,…

Villagers in the Northern District of Karen State on the Thai-Burma border gathered along the Salween River for the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams. On March 14, the Karen River Network organized event to call for “No Dams” near the Ei Tu Hta internally displaced peoples’ camp on the banks of the Salween River in Mutraw…

The Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP), a newly merged party of Karen political parties, has elected its central executive committee in Karen State’s captial Hpa-An yesterday (March 12). A total of 32 candidates with four candidates each from former Karen parties – Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), the Karen Democratic Party (KDP), the Karen State Democracy and Development Party (KSDDP), and…

A coalition of Karen community groups accused the Burma army soldiers of breaking the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and displacing thousands of villagers in Northern Karen State. The Karen Peace Support Network, a network of 29 Karen community-based-organizations issued a statement on March 9, alleging the Burma Army violated the National Ceasefire Agreement. The Karen Peace Support Network said the Burma…

Fighting broke out between troops from Karen National Liberation Army and the Burma Army in Ler Mu Plaw village tract in Papun (Mutraw) District of Northern Karen State on March 6. The clash caused thousands of villagers in the areas to flee. Padoh Saw Gaw, a standing committee member of the Karen National Union’s Mutraw district confirmed to Karen News…

The Thai government is issuing a 10-year residence certificate to Burma migrant children who were born in Thailand. As a result, the district municipal offices in Thailand are packed with applicants since the end of February and up to March 5, according to the Joint Action Committee for Burma Affairs (JACBA)’s chairman U Moe Gyo. “This is the first time…

The BackPack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) has opened a rural clinic in No-khwee Village, where healthcare is out of reach, in Paingkyon Township, Hpa-an District in the Karen State on March 3. The BPHWT’s deputy director Nan Snow said No-khwee Village does not receive any healthcare service from the government and local authorities due to difficulties in travelling and lack…

In an effort to unify all Karen political parties, the first three Karen State based parties came together to form the Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP). The Union Election Commission had approved the party’s registration. Party officials said on February 25th that they got the go ahead from the UEC afer the three old parties were dissolved in order to…

Karen Police burned confiscated methamphetamine tablets and opium in its attempts to fight illicit drug use. The Karen National Police Force (KNPF) under the Interior Department of the Karen National Union in Doo Pla Ya District, destroyed thousands of methamphetamine tablets (Ya Ma) and opium in an attempt to decrease the use of drugs in the area. Over ten thousand…

Over 3,000 people attended the funeral of veteran Karen revolutionary leader in Myit Kyoe Village of Bilin Township, Mon State on February 27. Col. Saw Ye Din, former operations commander of the KNLA Brigade 1 under the Karen National Union (KNU), passed away at the age of 78 on February 24. The KNLA Brigade 1’s commander Brig-Gen Saw Kyaw Lin,…