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A Japanese nonprofit has unveiled the largest rehabilitation program to date in Karen State, with 1,250 homes built to resettle conflict-affected families. At the March 10 launch event in Lay Kay Kaw village – where 100 of the residential units have been completed – the Nippon Foundation said it was committed to helping Myanmar realize peace, and announced plans to…

Representatives from the Karen National Union’s central level and from seven districts together with other observers made it to Lay Wah (also known as Law Khee Lar) in Pa-an district Karen State to attend the 16th Congress that started today, March 14, 2017. The KNU representatives and observers from the Karen political parties, Karen armed groups and Karen civil society…

As millions of women around the globe took to the streets or rallies to commemorate the 106th International Women’s Day, the Karen Women Organization rose to the occasion to demand that more women are involved in the Karen National Union leadership and that they take part in the political decision making at all levels. The KWO released a statement offering…

The largest refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border experienced a rash of suicide cases last year, mainly among the youth population, according to a doctor and camp resident. In 2016, there were 57 suicide attempts at Mae La refugee camp, 23 of which resulted in death, according to figures provided by a camp member recording the cases. “When we were…

The Karen National Union is gearing up for its 16th congress next week, with international representatives from 12 countries expected to attend the leadership-determining event. The congress, which was postponed from November last year, could have major repercussions for the KNU’s involvement in the peace process, with a vote expected to shake up the organization’s management. The international delegates, who…

Local villagers living near the Taungalay Mountain quarry plants to stop the quarry as they claimed it has harmed their villages and environment. The Taungalay quarry plant is located between Upper Kawtyin village tract and Naung Kyan village tract in Hpa-an Township. Saw Zar Li, a villager from Taungone village near the quarry plant said most villagers do not want…

Trucks delivering food assistance to the displaced people at the temporary camps in Myaing Gyi Ngu are now a rare sight. Camp warehouses are almost empty as the more than 3,000 displaced villagers from the Mae Tha Waw area are still unable to return to their homes. The fighting that broke out in September 2016 between the breakaway Democratic Karen…

With the government’s gender quota in peace process events continuing to fall far short, the Karen Women Organization has announced plans to help bolster women’s participation at all levels of peace events. “All women who take part in township, district and central level political movements should be participating in every phase of the peace process. Women should actively join the…

Sa Thu Hlaing Win, a Western Pwo Karen literacy advocate from the Irrawaddy delta region is the winner of the 2016 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award. Sa Thu Hlaing Win (also known as Sa Khant Thu Hlaing), was presented with the award at the 9th memorial service of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan that was held at Taw Gyaung…

In the weeks before he was murdered in February 2008, the Karen leader, Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, in an interview with Phil Thornton, spoke about the importance of unity and why the ethnic struggle would survive the opportunistic greed of those prepared to “sell out the Karen revolution.” Today marks the day nine years ago that the highly respected…