Articles

The Karen National Union elections for its four-year term leadership ended on April 8, 2017 after the top five positions were voted in. Chairperson, General Mutu Sae Po was re-elected to serve in the position for another four years, while Naw Zipporah Sein lost her position as vice-chair in an early round of the election vote. Ms Sein, the KNU’s…

The Karen National Union (KNU) has approved a roadmap roughly outlining its future activities over the next four years. The ethnic armed organization is currently convening its 16th congress, where election of its new leadership body is underway. Padoh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe, chair of the KNU Congress Committee, said the 20-point agenda for 2017-2021 was approved on April 4…

The current 16th Karen National Union (KNU) Congress entered its final stage from the first week of April, 2017. Election of new leadership that will take office for the next four years start tomorrow, on April 6. During the previous weeks, representatives debated several issues before an agreement and understanding could be reached. These issues include the Burma Army’s militarization…

According to the results announced by the Union Election Commission, the National League for Democracy took the largest share of the 19 seats available, capturing nine spots, while the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy kept the race close, picking up another six seats. The Arakan National Party (ANP) and the All Nationalities Democracy Party (ANDP) each took one seat, in…

After extensive discussions and over a week of debates, the Karen National Union finally has a new charter setting out its governing principles and administration. The KNU, one of the major ethnic armed groups to have signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in 2015, is holding its 16th national congress in Lay Wah (also known as Law Khee Lar) in…

Thailand has announced a Thingyan [water festival] gift for Myanmar migrant workers. Those heading home for the April holiday can do so without paying travel fees, and without fear of arrest, according to a recent decree. The fee waiver applies to migrant workers holding temporary passports and temporary work permits called “pink cards”; who otherwise face travel restrictions. The fee…

Over 800 Kayin State teachers are being trained in Karen language and culture in a three-week workshop in Hpa-An. “Ethnic language teaching is now permitted at government schools,” said Ko Wunna Htun, one of the leaders of the training program, which is being conducted by the Kayin (Karen) literature and culture association. “At this training, we will teach them not…

Hundreds of people have been swarming the passport issuing office in the Karen State capital on a daily basis, according to a police chief. He attributed the demand, which increased at the beginning of this year, to a lack of jobs in Myanmar as most of the passport applicants are headed to Thailand or Korea in search of work. “The…

Urgent medical attention is needed at the Ei Tu Hta displaced persons camp in Karen State amid an outbreak of diarrhea among children and the elderly, camp officials have said. The outbreak began on February 20 and has so far affected around 30 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Camp officials are calling for emergency aid, including medicine, to be provided in…

With donor-supplied food rations set to stop soon, internally displaced families in Karen State say they are worried about their future, yet have little recourse. Donors are expected to discontinue food aid at five camps in Karen and Shan states as of September in a move that could affect around 9,000 people. “If the support stops, it will not be…