Articles

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…

Soldiers from the breakaway Democratic Karen Buddhist Army clashed with the government militia, the Border Guard Force, in Htee Poe Zan village tract near Kawkareik at noon on October 19. The fighting between the DKBA soldiers and the BGF battalion 1017 lasted around 40 minutes, according to local villagers. Major Saw Deedee, Battalion Commander of BGF 1017 confirmed the fighting…

The Karen National Union (KNU) executive committee issued a letter of condolence on the passing of His Majesty the King of Thailand. The Karen National Union said it its letter that it was “deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On this sad occasion, the Karen National Union would like to express its…

Despite some educational reform taking place in Burma, ethnic education workers claim that equal opportunity for them will only be possible when the country’s education system is decentralized. Padoh Saw Lah Say, Head of the Karen Education Department, the educational wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) made the point during the World’s Teachers Day on October 5th in Thay…