Articles

Karen National Union leaders has called for respective state and regional governments to recognized land rights and policies that are already in place for decades in ethnic areas and agreed to by both ethnic communities and armed groups. Padoh Mahn Mahn, the joint general secretary of the Karen National Union made the call to the government during the launch of…

The Karen Youth Organization celebrated its 27th anniversary at Natchaung Village in Kyainseikgyi Township on 25 May where its leader said that today’s Karen youth are not aware of the important of the organizations existence. The KYO Day was attended by as many as 100 people, including Karen National Union leaders and Karen youth leaders. The Karen Youth organization has…

Monsoon rains and heavy winds destroyed a Karen migrant school on the Thai Burma border last week. The school, Kwe Ka Baung, in Mae Sot in Thailand’s Tak Province, had its administration office and equipment wrecked by a twister on the 21st of May, during a heavy rainstorm. A Kwe Ka Baung school official told Karen News that they are…

For the first time, a sport event for people with disabilities was held on May 17 in Hpa-an Karen State. Organisers said the aim of the event was to encourage the community to recognize the value of people with disabilities. Myanmar Red Cross, Australia Red Cross, and the Karen Handicap Sports Committee worked together to hold the inaugural Disabled Sport…

As part of its policy development intended to contribute to the peace process political negotiations, the Ethnic National Affairs Center (ENAC) held a meeting with Karen political and civil organizations to discuss about the drafted ethnic affair policies. The ENAC, formed in 2013 describes itself as an independent resource, training, and education center supporting the peace process and development of…

Villagers in Karen State are upset tunnels dug on their land for international and local telecommunication companies was done without permission. Naung Ka Myaing villagers in Hpa-an township, Karen State are now demanding and official clarification and paperwork about the cable tunnel digging project that was carried out on their farmlands and backyards The tunnel excavation was carried out by…

In an effort to create more understanding on the proposed hydro-power dam on Baw Ka Hta River in Kyaukyi Township, the Karen National Union held a consultation meeting with community organizations on May 6 in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. The Baw Ka Hta hydro-power dam project, located in the KNU’s Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htu) district in Easter…

A fire at Umphiem refugee camp in Phop Phra district on the Thai-Burma border on the afternoon of May 7 destroyed 10 houses. The fire broke out at 2 pm in Section 15 of Zone B, but camp officials said it is still unknown how it started. Daw Aye Hlaing, secretary of the Section 15 told Karen News that there…

Prominent human rights advocacy organization, Human Rights Watch calls for new civilian government to push for human rights reforms. In a statement released today, Human Rights Watch has called on the new National League for Democracy government to make human rights a “top priority.” Mr. Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, praised some of the first acts taken…

May Day 2016, workers around the world took to the streets and city parks to rally and march to show their solidarity and support for their workplace rights. Trade unionists started the May Day celebrations, also known as International Workers Day in Chicago in 1886, when they demanded and won an eight-hour workday, today it is celebrated by workers from…