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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…

In a recent evaluation, the Karen National Union deemed signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and being taken off the government’s unlawful organizations list as two of its biggest political achievements over the past four years. At the KNU’s [ongoing] 16th Congress, representatives were presented with a review of the four-year political agenda established by the previous congress in 2012.…

The 16th Congress of the Karen National Union (KNU) is underway. Karen News spoke to Karen leaders to get their opinions on the election for a new leadership that will come out during the Congress. Naw K’nyaw Paw, (Secretary, Karen Women Organization) “The Karen National Union represents all Karen people. Thus, the person who is going to become the leader…

As the Karen National Union prepares to elect a new leadership body this week, displaced Karen families joined a local environmental group in lobbying for the next chairperson to reject hydropower proposals. On March 14, International Day of Action for Rivers, Karen Rivers Watch held a demonstration on the bank of the Salween. Members of the Ee Tu Htat and…

A bridge naming controversy in Mon State continues as ethnic Karen leaders weighed in this week, cautioning that the decision could have far-reaching repercussions on attempts to broker peace in ethnic areas. The bridge fracas began last month when the Mon State Government announced plans to name a bridge connecting Mawlamyine Capital of Mon State and Chaungzone Township, Bilukyun [Island]…

In downtown Mawlamyine Capital of Mon State, a crowd of 200 gathered on March 14 to stage a protest against hydropower projects in conflict zones. Marking the International Day of Action for Rivers, the demonstrators called for the government to reassess building large-scale dams until the country’s armed conflict is resolved and the political system reformed. Similar rallies were staged…