Articles

A coalition of more than 40 human rights and civil society organisations have called for an international investigation into the situation in Rakhine State – where reports of violence against the Muslim Rohingya minority continue to emerge. Fortify Rights, a South East Asia based human rights organisation, said that the evidence pointed towards State-sponsored attacks of the Rohingya and that,…

The installation of cable cars on Karen State’s famous and symbolic, Zwekabin Mountain is to start in February after investing companies have signed agreement on January 12, 2017. The two companies who will run the projects are the Zwekabin Myay Development Company that was founded and managed by followers of the Zwekabin Temple monk, U Kawi Daza and Chit Lin…

Human Rights Watch and Fortify Rights called for the Burma government to release information on two ethnic Kachin Baptist leaders missing since late December. The HRW and Fortify Rights statement said the two men, Langjaw Gam Seng, 35, and Dumdaw Nawng Lat, 65, “were apparently forcibly disappeared in Northern Shan State.” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch…

A path has opened for environmental conservationists and rights advocates to strengthen their fight against gold mining and other socially and environmentally destructive projects in the rich forests of Karen State in eastern Myanmar: the Salween Peace Park. The 5,200-sq-km Peace Park is a radical initiative to create an indigenous-led sanctuary to protect indigenous cultural heritage and endangered wildlife. Located…

The Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), which is based in the Karen State’s capital Hpa-an, will run for a seat in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) in Kawhmu Township, Rangoon Region in the upcoming by-election in April, the party’s vice-chairman Mann Aung Pyae Soe told KIC on 17 January. “The Phalon-Sawaw [Democratic] Party is trying to cover the whole country. It…

Fortify Rights, an international human rights organization called on the government of China to offer safe refuge to “thousands of ethnic Kachin civilians fleeing ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar and prevent forced returns.” Fortify Rights in a statement on Friday 13 January said Kachin civilians running from the fighting in Burma were caught in a hard place. “China should provide…

THANDWE, Rakhine State – Rakhine State is one of Myanmar’s poorest regions, where fishing is an important livelihood and business, while it also provides food for many subsistence fishermen. A 2014 Oxfam report estimated 43 percent of the population was to some degree dependent on fishing or aquaculture. The industry has been in a long decline, however, as fish catch…

Two skirmishes broke out between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP) within the same day near Thè Chaung Phyar Village, Yebyu Township in Tenasserim Region on 11 January, both armed groups confirmed. The skirmishes resumed between the two armed groups due to an unresolved territorial dispute. The first skirmish broke out between 6 and…

Karen representatives discussed an eight-point draft policy for the political sector during the Karen National Political Dialogue for Political Sector, which was held at Zwegabin Hall in the Karen State’s capital Hpa-an from 11 to 13 January. During the press conference held in the evening on the last day of the discussion, Pado Saw Eh Kalu Say from the Karen…

The unexpected death of a young Karen woman found in a Bangkok apartment on January 3, 2017, has raised suspicions among the Karen community. The circumstances surrounding the death of the young woman, Nan Pawt Eh Mwee, 22, (also know as) Nan Htay Htay Oo have left many in the Karen migrant communities unconvinced of official explanations. On January 11,…