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Laws which allow inspections of private properties without warrants and require the registration and government approval of household guests are draconian and open to abuse by the authorities, a report by Fortify Rights said today. “ In the past two weeks, Myanmar authorities have reportedly searched private residences under the pretence of checking for unregistered overnight guests in order to…

The Karen River Watch, a coalition of Karen environmental community based groups raise concerns over the proposed hydropower dam projects on the Salween River and repeated their call for a halt to all development projects. Together with local villagers, KRW held a protest near Hat Gyi Dam, one of the proposed dam sites in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State on March…

Community based organisations, including the Shan Human Rights organisation and Action for Rivers, have called for an immediate halt in government backed dam projects in Shan State, where conflict has escalated in recent months. The Shan Human Rights organisation said it estimated that half of 43 government planned dam projects were to be constructed on rivers inside Shan State –…

Opposition to the Burmese government’s use of force against students protesting over the introduction of an education bill is growing. Dr Cynthia Maung, founder of the Mae tao Clinic on the Thai Burma border said that the use of force undermines democratic reform. Speaking to Karen News Dr Cynthia said. “The students are exercising their right to freedom of speech,…

The advocacy group, Burma Campaign UK released a statement that “welcomed a new report by the British government,” that acknowledged ‘Burma’s reforms process was ‘of significant concern. The Burma Campaign UK said that the British government’s “admission came in the annual human rights report by the British Foreign Office, following a months’ long campaign by Burma Campaign UK to persuade…

Two Karen political parties have expressed their concern over the violent crackdown on student protesters saying the government’s use of force will not solve the problem and it could be a setback for the country’s reforms. The Plone-Sawow Democratic Party (PSDP) and the Karen Democratic Party (KDP) officially voiced their concerns over the police forcibly dispersing protesting students at Letpandan…

Fighting between government troops and soldiers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army broke out yesterday, March 11 at around 2 pm near Kawkareik Town. DKBA sources confirmed to Karen News that the fighting was between the government’s Light Infantry Battalion 231, under its Military Operation Command 12, based at Kyaung Sha Gon and Ywa Thit villages, four miles south of…

Karen women commemorated International Women’s Day by paying tribute to the many women who fought for justice and equality. Naw Marry Htay, chairperson of Karen Women Organization Dooplaya district spoke to Karen News about what the day meant to her. “On this special day, I would like to say that it is important [the ability of] our women are recognized.…

The Karen National Union, currently holding peace talks with the government, issued a statement supporting protesters opposed to the new National Education Bill, approved by the country’s parliament, but yet to be ratified by President U Thein Sein. The KNU said in its statement that the government’s use of force against ‘peaceful’ protesters is excessive. “The security forces are using…

The Shan Human Rights Foundation have documented a series of shootings, murders, tortures that they said have happened in Shan State during the recent armed conflict between the Burma Army and the Kokang militia. The Shan Human Rights Foundation withheld the names of the people for security reasons. “February 13, 2015 around 4 pm two women, one aged 76 and…