Articles

A statement released by the United Nationalities Federal Council has warned that ongoing conflict in Burma’s Kachin and Shan States is blocking negotiations for a nationwide ceasefire agreement. The UNFC noted that it had held at least 27 meetings with the Burma Government over the last two years to set a framework national agreement, without success. “UNFC sees that in…

A Burma Army attack on a village in Southern Shan State, that left two villagers dead was tantamount to a war crime, a human rights organisation claims. The attack occurred on September 12, when about 100 Burma Army soldiers attacked Nawng Pa Deb village. The Shan Human Rights Foundation, a human rights advocacy organisation based in Thailand, said that the…

On the second day of a three-day summit in the Northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, seven ethnic armed organizations have decided to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the government – 17 armed groups attended the meeting. According to a tentative agreement between the government and the ethnic armed organizations the NCA it was planned to sign it in…

The people of Burma will go the polls on November 8, 2015. Karen News talked to a wide range of people to get their views on the election and what they hoped it would deliver. Many voters In Burma remain skeptical that the elections will be free and fair. With the 25% reserved for the military in the Parliament, people…

Government officials have stopped a Karen community group from holding a conference to discuss the impact of development projects on local communities. Youth Circle (YC), a civil society group working on youth and social issues had planned to release the findings of a report at a three-day conference it had organized in Hpa-an, Karen State last week. State government officials…

Fighting in early July 2015 between soldiers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and government troops along the Asia Highway, not only forced villagers from their homes, but caused them to lose most of their household belongings and food supplies when fleeing the conflict. Control of the newly built Asia Highway that connects Myawaddy to Kawkreik caused conflict between the…

As Burma’s national elections loom closer, voters in Karen State fear ‘dirty tricks’ on finding their names have been removed from electoral rolls. Thousands of voters in Kawkareik Town were upset when they found their names not included in the second round announcement of voters listed as eligible to vote in the November 8, national elections. Kawkareik Town residents said…

Villagers are worried for their health after 134 students were rushed to hospital after bird hunters may have poisoned community drinking water. Villagers fear that their drinking water was poisoned after 134 school students in Tha Yet Taw village in Kyondoe, Kawkareik Township became sick and had to be hospitalized after drinking water from a school pond on Wednesday, September…

A human rights organisation has accused the Burma Army of forcing 10 villagers to be human shields during fighting in Shan State. The Shan Human Rights Foundation said that Burma Army forced villagers from Kunhing township – in southern Shan State – to march with them on an afternoon patrol to prevent attacks by the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan…

Religion tensions have increased following the building of a Buddhist pagoda in the compound of a Christian church located in Hpa-an Township. Local community and religious leaders are worried that the construction of the pagoda and a temple in the compound of the Baptist church in Mezaing (Mae Sit Hta) village in Hpa-an township, Karen State will lead to increased…