Articles

Burma’s Government is intensifying intimidation and arrest of student activists as a nationwide election nears on November 8, 2015. In recent weeks student activist leaders have been arrested without notice and arbitrarily detained. Last week security forces arrested Ko Zeya Lwin, one of the leaders behind a June 30 protest outside Yangon’s Town Hall. Ko Zeya Lwin was pr0testing against…

In 1997 the Burma Army forced Karen people from the Mutraw (Papun) District in Karen State from their homes. Many of these people were practicing animists. During the forced displacement, villagers unable to live on their land were many of their deity’s lived, lost many aspects of their Karen animism beliefs. Despite living in displacement, fear and hardship, five Karen…

Dengue fever outbreaks on the Thai Burma border have affected hundreds of students, with many having to be hospitalized. Heavy wet season rains that drench communities on both sides of the Thai Burma border, are an early warning sign that it is the time of year that dengue fever strikes. Health Ministries from both countries have released statistics in recent…

The government and ethnic groups’ representatives reached an agreement in principle to work towards getting the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signed and starting the process of drafting a political dialogue framework with President U Thein Sein’s administration. The Union Peacemaking Working Committee led by Minister U Aung Min and the Ethnic Senior Delegation led by Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein met on…

The fighting in Karen State between the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and Burma Army continue as negotiations to stop the fighting failed. Captain Saw Three Htoo, an Intelligence Officer from the Klo Htoo Wah Brigade said that fighting between Burma Army and the DKBA continues near Kaw Moo village, Kawkareik Township, Karen State. Speaking to Karen News on Tuesday…

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…