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Health professionals on the Thai Burma border have warned that people are still at risk from dengue fever because of the unusually warm weather and late rains that have allowed the aedes mosquito to continue to breed. Ms. Aya Tabata, coordinator of the Stop Dengue, Protect Your Family campaign urged people to continue to take precautions. “People need to get…

More than 300 farmers from different parts of Shan State gathered to honour the memory of a fellow farmer, Loong Sarm, who was shot and killed by Burmese Government soldiers on October 13. Loong Harm, 54, was travelling alongside 14 others to monitor mining operations in Loi Kham area close to his village when he was shot in the leg…

A coalition of Shan community based organisations has accused the Burmese Government of committing ‘war crimes’ in the ongoing Shan State conflict. At a press conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, more than 30 Shan community organisations, including Shan Human Rights Foundation, said that Burmese Government soldiers had engaged in the “shootings and rape of villagers.” “[Government] troops have been launching…

The Phan Foundation has officially announced its acceptance of nominees for the 8th annual Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award – the closing date is on January 31, 2016. The Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award is given annually to Karen community workers who work in health, education, social or cultural areas. According to the Foundation’s criteria, nominees should be…

Thailand’s public health officials have reported that 2015 was the worst year for dengue fever in more than 20 years. Thailand’s Ministry of disease control estimates that 116 people died and as many as 123,168 cases of dengue fever were detected up until the end of November 2015. Sophon Mekthon, deputy director-general at the Ministry of Public Health said in…

Refugee camp officials on the Thai Burma are hugely concerned that suicides among camp residents are climbing. Saw Pha Htaw, social affair coordinator for Mae La refugee camp said that the rise in the suicide rate in Mae La camp this year is now causing a lot of concern. Speaking to Karen News, Saw Pha Htaw said. “We have seen…

Burma Army soldiers are perpetrating sexual violence against women in conflict areas inside Shan State, according to a local human rights organisation. The Shan Human Rights Foundation documented at least eight cases of sexual violence committed by Burma Army soldiers in ceasefire areas since April of this year. The latest incident allegedly occurred on November 5th, where a 32 year-old…

Two Hpa-an based land right activists have been jailed for two years in jail, under Article 17/1 for association with an illegal organization. The two men, Saw Maung Maung Gyi and Saw Eh Say were sentenced on November 25, at Hpa-an Township’s Court. Saw Maung Maung Gyi, an 88 Generation Karen Student Group’s chairperson who had been helping local villagers…

David Tharckabaw, head of the Karen National Unions Alliance Affairs, in an exclusive interview with Karen News, congratulates Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD for their election win, but warns that military should not be trusted. The people have spoken up against a bad government. I hope there are no more dirty tricks, no more profits for the cronies…

Burma’s Union Election Commission now have announced all the results of the November 8 polls and Aung San Su Kyi’s National League for Democracy have a massive landslide. A total of five Karen political parties competed in the 2015 election in Karen State. The five Karen parties could only secure a State Parliamentary seat at Thandaunggyi Constituency no. 2 where…