Articles

In an exclusive two-part interview with Karen News, *Zoya Phan, the Campaigns Manager at Burma Campaign UK and recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, outlines what Burma’s government needs to do if it is to have genuine political dialogue with the country’s people. Zoya Phan, the Campaigns Manager at Burma Campaign UK explained to Karen…

Burma’s media joined forces with the International Federation of Journalists to call for a media environment without censorship and to be included in the legislation that shapes the country’s media laws. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a media statement supporting Burmese journalists as “they work to create a more open media landscape” for the country’s journalist to work…

The ethnic alliance, the United Nationalities Federal Council, blamed the government for the fighting in Kachin State. The UNFC said the ongoing fighting in kachin State is a result of the government’s territorial containment policy in ethnic states. The UNFC said that thousands of Kachin civilians have been forced from their homes due to the recent fighting on November 17…

Dawei residents in Southern Burma held a press conference on November 12 in Rangoon in an attempt to highlight what the residents have had to face because of mining in the region. The Dawei villagers from the western Dawei area said the mining has been going on before and after ceasefire agreements between the Karen National Union and the government.…

Burma’s President, U Thein Sein, amnesty on November 15 saw the release of 69 political prisoners, including Naw Ohn Hla. Naw Ohn Hla who was imprisoned for two years because of her involvement in leading protests against the Letpadaung Copper Mining Project, a Chinese copper mine operating in the Sagaing Region. Naw Ohn Hla spoke to Karen News. “I was…

Despite being resettled, displaced Karen villagers in Thar Mae Plaw, in southern Burma, are still living in fear after the Burma Army repeatedly entered their newly resettled site. Saw Honny, a relief worker helping the displaced to resettle in Thar Mae Plaw spoke to Karen News. “Burma Army, Infantry Battalion 101, about 26 soldiers led by 2nd Battalion Commander Aung…

Six Karen ethnic boxers have been selected to represent Burma at the coming 27th Southeast Asian Games that will be hosted in Burma from December 11th 2013. A member of the SEA Game organizing committee said that the Karen boxers selected to compete in the SEA Game include Saw Nga Man (Saw Shark), the Burmese golden belt champion, Nan That…

For the first time in decades, farmers in Dawei Township held a demonstration in Dawei City in an attempt get back farmlands returned to them that were confiscated by the former military regime. Ko Tun Tun Win, a farmer who led the demonstration accused local government officials of implementing development projects on confiscated farmlands without informing or negotiating with owner…

Karen News is led to understand that President U Thein Sein has given directives to his office’s minister not to discuss issues about ethnic states secession and issues that can harm the sovereignty of the country during political dialogue with ethnic groups. Burma government ministers and political parties met in the Myanmar Peace Center on November 10 where President Office…

The Migrant Worker Right Network (MWRN), has criticized the Burma and Thailand’s National Verification process for leaving migrant workers open to exploitation at the hands of corrupt brokers. It is estimated that in the last 30 years more than three million workers from Burma crossed borders illegally looking for better pay and to escape the poverty of their own country.…