Articles

As fighting continues between the Burma Army and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, the government has come under fire from a senior Karen General for trying to “shut down the DKBA.” Major General Nerdah Bo Mya, head of the Karen National Defence Organisation in an exclusive interview with Karen News said that the “Burma Army wanted the DKBA off the highway,…

Fighting between the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and the Burma Army is continuing along the newly opened Asia Highway 1. Nan Paw Gay had attended a preliminary Karen National Conference in Rangoon and hoping to return to the border area via Hpa-an. “There was fighting on Sunday and officials had told us that there was still shooting today.” Nan Paw…

Fighting between government troops and soldiers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army on the new Myawaddy – Kawkareik Asia Highway this Thursday morning, 2nd July. Karen News is led to understand that the fighting broke out over security for the highway over a planned official visit to the area. The fighting between the Burma Army Infantry Battalion 231 under the…

Human rights watchdog, Freedom House issued a statement condemning the contempt of court charges filed against 17 journalists in Burma. Freedom House said in their statement that the contempt of court charges filed against the 17 journalists was an indicator of the lack of press freedom in Burma. Freedom House’s executive vice president, Daniel Calingaert said. “This action is indicative…

Following a statement issued by the Karen Women Organization calling for Burma government and international community to respect the right of refugees on World Refugees’ Day, representatives of the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees met with Karen community based organization on June 23, to discuss repatriation issues. The meeting’s included presentation of the UNHCR’s roadmap on refugee repatriation and…

In an exclusive interview with Karen News, the International Non-Government Organisation, PU-AMI, outlined its plans to protect refugees on the Thai Burma border against outbreaks of the Dengue virus. PU-AMI, together with Thai health officials, community based groups and other international aid agencies, have put together a public health campaign to try to prevent dengue and to increase awareness among…

The start of the regional wet season has seen an increase in dengue fever cases coming to Mae Tao Clinic located in the Thai-Burma border town of Mae Sot. Health workers at the clinic told Karen News that since the beginning of June “dengue patients had noticeably increased.” Saw San Myint Tun, from Mae Tao Clinic’s community health department said…

The coming wet season and the threat of a dengue virus outbreak have made Thomas Viger a busy man. As Thailand program coordinator for Solidarites International he is also responsible for organizing the hygiene, water, sanitation and livelihood program at Mae La Refugee Camp on the Thai Burma border. Mae La is located 60kms north of the Thai border town…

Armed conflict in Kachin and parts of Shan State continues, despite ongoing ceasefire talks between the Burma government and ethnic armed groups, as the toll on civilians grows. Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organisation delivering frontline assistance to civilians across Burma, estimate that there were 127 armed clashes in April and May alone causing hundreds of casualties including both civilians…

A human rights organization has accused the Burma Army and an ethnic armed group of abuses and violations against civilians in Southern Chin State. In its report, The Chin Human Rights Organization warned that recent fighting between the Arakan Army and the Burma Army was putting civilians at risk with both sides alleged of perpetrating human rights abuses. The report,…