Articles

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,…

The Karen National Union (KNU) will not only negotiate land issues in the Karen State with the Burmese government but also carry them out in practice, KNU’s joint secretary-2 Pado Mann Mann Mann said. He made the remarks at the press conference held on the last day of the Karen National Political Dialogue on Land and Environmental Sector. The event…

The Karen National Union 16th Congress vote, scheduled for March 2017, is looking like one of the most critical elections the KNU has held. Observers note that the outcome will decide which KNU faction will lead the organization’s efforts to work on securing peace for the Karen people. In determining who can vote at the KNU’s 16th Congress, members of…

Fighting between Karen and Mon soldiers over natural resources and control of territory resulted in one officer wounded by gunfire. The Karen National Liberation Army and the Mon National Liberation Army exchanged fire near Mann Aung village in Ye Phyu Township on December 20 – a deputy company commander from KNLA was wounded. According to sources from both groups, the…