Articles

Reports are emerging of a series of small scale attacks by Burma Army forces against Kachin Independence Army positions throughout Kachin State, and on the Shan-Kachin State border. Free Burma Rangers, a frontline humanitarian aid agency, has reported that the attacks have led to “several” civilian casualties including a 60-year-old woman, killed and a 7-year-old girl, badly injured by gunfire.…

A human rights advocacy organisation has led calls to release three prominent religious tolerance activists. The activists, Zaw Zaw Latt, Pwint Phyu Latt and Zaw Win Bo, are Muslim and Hindu members of Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar – Peace Seekers and Multiculturalist Movement – a foundation created to promote tolerance between Burma’s different religious groups. Burma Campaign UK called…

Refugees responded to a senior Tak Province official speaking about the repatriation of the more than 100,000 refugees from Burma living in camps along the Thai-Burmese border by claiming that withdrawal of support by international donors is their immediate concern. Suttha Saivanid, the Tak Deputy-Governor said the Thai government had been in contact with Burma’s recently elected National League for…

Villagers in Doo Tha Htoo District Karen State are demanding to be paid full compensation for their lands they allege were illegally taken by one of Burma’s largest companies. Residents of Shwe Yaung Pya village and surrounding villages in Thaton Township have made it clear that they want to get paid full compensation for 5,000 acres of land near Shwe…

Three people were wounded when a landmine exploded as they were sightseeing in Northern Burma on Tuesday 26 April. The three people were two German tourists and their local guide. The area where the explosion took place is close to where the Burma Army is fighting with an ethnic Shan armed group. AFP reported that the three injured people were…

Across Myanmar landmines pose a daily threat of death and disability, but five years after the transition to democracy began, an official clearance programme has yet to get underway. KYAUKKYI, Myanmar (Myanmar Now) – Two years ago, Kyar Yin was in the forest near his village collecting bamboo to sell when he stepped on a landmine. Alone and his left…

Followers of Sayadaw U Thuzana, were instructed by the Buddhist leader to build a pagoda in a Christian church’s compound in Kun Taw Gyi also known as Tha Blu Kla village in Hliangbwe Township, Karen State on April 23. Villagers are concerned that the Abbot’s provocative actions could ignite the already increasing religious tension in the area. More than 300…

Burma Campaign UK, a human rights advocacy group has called for the release of U Gambira, a prominent political activist arrested in January, and “all the remaining political prisoners in Burma. U Gambira was arrested on January 19th this year while visiting Burma from his home in Thailand to obtain a new passport. U Gambira is in Obo prison while…

A Burma Army attack on a village on the Shan-Kachin State border has seen civilians targeted and killed, according to a report by the front line humanitarian organisation Free Burma Rangers. The attack happened on the 30th of March at Pang Hka village. During the attack a 70-year-old woman, named as Ma Kaw, was shot in the stomach. Before Ma…

The Karen State parliament approved six key ministries on April 7 that will be run by two independent academics, a representative of the military, Members of Parliament from the National League for Democracy and the Union Solidarity and Development Party. Nan Khin Htwe Myint, the Chief Minister of Karen State proposed the successful candidates that would lead the six ministries.…