Articles

The number of quarries in Mon State is quickly increasing and locals say authorities fail to regulate their environmental impact on farmlands. PAUNG TOWNSHIP, Mon State – On a recent afternoon in May, the farmers of Ohn Titbin Village Tract were tending to their betel nut and rubber plantations when a loud blast erupted at the foot of Kalama Mountain…

Health workers in South East Asia are getting ready for the annual onslaught of the dengue fever virus. On June 15 ASEAN held its 2016 annual designated Dengue Day in its 10 member states. Dengue places enormous costs on countries in Southeast – social, economic and human. It is estimated that of the 2.5 billion people at risk of getting…

In an effort to resettle and reintegrate internally displaced communities, the Karen National Union’s local officials are using funding from Japan’s Nippon Foundation to build low-cost housing for displaced people forced from their homes during armed conflict. With funding from the Nippon Foundation, a Japanese non-government organisation, 300 low-cost houses are being built in Kyain Seikgyi and Payar Thonzu Townships…

Migrant student passing the university matriculation examination dropped to 22 % this year causing concerns to migrant teachers on the bias in the current system. According to the matriculation examination results for the 2015-16 academic year announced on 11th of June, only 17 out of 86 students from migrant schools based in Mae Sot had passed. The poor results have…

Human Rights Watch has criticized an assembly law proposed by Burma’s National League of Democracy government, saying it needs “significant revisions” to meet international standards. Burma’s Assembly Law currently requires citizens to apply for government approval for any demonstration, and that notice is given at least 48 hours before a planned demonstration. HRW welcomed some elements of the new proposal,…

Local villagers from Maw Kee in Myawaddy District were frightened by gunshot fired Burma army commander near their village. Villagers said the Burma Army was angry in negotiation with villagers when he demanded timber. Burma Army soldiers led by Major Nyunt Win Hlaing from Light Infantry Battalion #62 under Military Operation Command (MOC) #19 and based in Ka Nae Lay,…

A community-based human rights organisation alleges that Burma Army soldiers stationed in Shan State are committing grave human rights violations. The Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) said in a public statement that Burma Army forces in Shan State have used “torture, extrajudicial killings, and [the] use of civilians as human shields.” SHRF said that Burma Army had launched a new…

Mae Tao Clinic located in the Thai border town of Mae Sot in Tak Province officially moved to a new purposed built hospital in an effort to keep providing care to people from Burma unable to access the country’s failed healthcare system. Dr. Cynthia Maung, the founder and director of Mae Tao clinic told reporters at the new clinic’s opening…

Karen representatives from various parts of Burma and overseas got together in move to prepare for forthcoming national peace talks pointed out that despite Burma having democratically elected government the military continues to hold power under the country’s current constitution. More than 150 Karen representatives traveled to the Karen National Union’s Law Khee Lar, Hpa-an District to discuss major issues…

Last year’s floods and other extreme weather events have prompted many farmers in Ayeyarwady Delta to leave some of their land fallow. ZALUN Township, Ayeyarwady Region — Aung Kywe remembers how he had to stand by helplessly last year when massive floods in the wake of Cyclone Komen affected Ayeyarwady Delta and destroyed half of his 14 acres of paddy.…