Articles

A number of concerned civil society organizations have issued a statement demanding an investigation into the murder of a young Karen women activist, Naw Chit Pandaing, stabbed to death on November 19, in Dawei Town. Naw Chit Pandaing was a human right activist and a former worker with the Takabaw civil society organization – at the time of her killing,…

The Karen National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) will participate in the national-level political dialogue as a single block. The decision was reached at a meeting between the three Karen ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) in Lay Kaw Myothit in Myawaddy Township, Karen State on 21 November.…

The Karen national flag flown in front of a primary school in the dual administration areas of Win Ye Township was taken down by Burma Army soldiers operating in the areas. Local KNU officials confirmed to Karen News that the incident took place on November 11, at Konekhaing (Koekaw) village in Win Ye Township in the Karen National Union’s Doo…

The Karen Health and Welfare Department, a health service provider under the Karen National Union is planning that its teaching hospital, near Kawkariek will be set up and running by January, 2017. The teaching hospital, called Taw Nor [Daw Na], was planned to open on the first of January, but it is thought that unfinished building works might delay the…

The 30th batch of students to pass Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) Basic Medical Training course graduated at a ceremony held on 10 November in Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 7 territory. The 105 students, who are all members of ethnic armed organisations (EAOs), came from many ethnic groups including the Karen, Kachin, Arakan, Kayan, Naga and Palaung ethnic groups.…

Eight health organisations from the Thai-Burma border, which have been providing birth certificates and documents to enable children to be properly registered, will discuss their work with Karen State Government departments on 28 November. The organisations help provide birth certificates and documentation to unregistered children born in the border areas of Karen State, including in Karen National Union (KNU) controlled…

Karen people living in the USA gathered in front of the White House in Washington DC to call for sanctions to be continued to be imposed on Burma. The Karen began their protest outside the White House on November 11, 2016. The more than 700 Karen protesters said that the lifting of sanctions on Burma by the US government was…

Plans to build dams on the Salween River by the Burma government, China and Thailand threatens millions of villagers and animals that depend on the free flowing river for their living, food sources and as a vital transport link. The Salween River is one of Asia’s great rivers that brings life to the people who live along its banks. The…

The Karen State government is now making arrangements for the first return of 96 residents – 19 families – who have been living in refugee camps on the Thai border. The families are set to cross the Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge tomorrow. Nan Khin Htwe Myint, Chief Minister of Karen State on October 25, visited temporary accommodation for the returning refugees,…

Leaders from the Karen National Union and the News Mon State Party agreed more effort is needed to prevent territorial disputes between the two groups. Both parties met on October 15, at an undisclosed location on the Thai-Burma border to discuss their concerns about territory. The latest disputes resulted in armed conflict between the two ethnic armed groups in early…