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Karen refugee youth took part in a politics, peace and management bootcamp this week. Over 70 people attended the three-day training, which was held at the Mae La refugee camp on the Thai-Myanmar border, according to members of the Karen Youth Organization. The KYO organized the youth forum as a positive activity for youth in the camp, where abuse of…

Only five houses have been rebuilt in a Karenni refugee camp in Thailand after a fire in the beginning of the month. According to camp leadership, there is a shortage of wood and bamboo. “We have only been able to rebuild five houses as a sufficient amount of bamboo and wood hasn’t arrived at the camp yet, causing delays. I…

South Korea welcomed nearly two dozen Karen refugees to the country this week as part of a three-year resettlement program that began in 2015. The 23 people from the Mae La refugee camp on the Thai-Myanmar border arrived in Seoul on July 25, joining 86 refugees from Burma already resettled in Korea. “We went to the airport to welcome them…

The US ambassador to Myanmar met with the Karen National Union on July 21 to get input about supporting local health and education projects in a bid to spur peace through development, according to a KNU official present at the gathering. The meeting at the KNU’s liaison office in the Karen State capital lasted over an hour. “The ambassador himself…

A low-cost, subsidized medical clinic reopened last week in Kyaukkyi, Bago Region, expanding the remote area’s health care options, according to local politicians. The Ther Ray Dao Pae Rehabilitation and Development Association, a community-based organization, relaunched the clinic on July 22. It had initially opened in June 2016, but shut soon after due to a lack of certified medical personnel…

On her sixth tour of Myanmar, UN human rights expert Yanghee Lee made a stop to meet with Karen social organizations in Hpa-an township, Kayin (Karen) State on July 16. “We discussed issues related to education, health, traditions and culture, women’s rights and rule of law. I discussed the situation of literature and culture. We were only submitting information about…

The US ambassador to Myanmar met with the Karen National Union on July 21 to get input about supporting local health and education projects in a bid to spur peace through development, according to a KNU official present at the gathering. The meeting at the KNU’s liaison office in the Kayin (Karen) State capital lasted over an hour. “The ambassador…

Karen State Chief Minister Daw Nan Khin Htwe Myint suffered from injuries in a car crash near Hpa-an on Friday, July 14 at around 7 AM as she was on her way to the birthday ceremony of Sayadaw U Pyinyar Thami, in Tuangalay, Hpa-an, Karen State. The Chief Minister was scheduled to attend the 57th birthday ceremony of Sayadaw U…

Representatives from eight ethnic armed groups took part in a training program offered by the Cambodia-based Centre for Peace and Conflict Study from July 7-11. The officials – all of whom represent groups that have signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement – are taking part in a four-part leadership training held by the peace-building centre. P’doh Saw Hla Tun, joint secretary…

Over 1,000 signatures have so far been collected on a petition against building a coal-fired power plant in Karen State, according to local activists. Saw Aung Than Htwe from Htone Taung village said that around 1,300 signatures have been collected in 20 villages in Hpa-an township, as well as in Ta Kaung Boe and U Daung village tracts in Hlaingbwe…