Articles

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…

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…