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A line of soldiers adorned in flowered garlands threaded their way across the Karen National Defence Organisation’s parade ground in Karen State. The parade on the last day of January ushered in the first year that members of three Karen armed groups celebrated Karen Revolution Day together. Members of the Karen National Union, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, and the…

A number of international human rights groups and media watchdog organisations condemned the Burma government for jailing five journalists for allegedly exposing states secrets. In a strongly worded media release the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) “condemns the arrest and continuing detainment of five Burmese journalists following the publication of a story alleging a Burmese military facility was producing chemical…

Three soldiers from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 549 held seven Karen villagers hostage, demanding cash for their return, claims Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organization that delivers aid to displaced people. The incident is alleged to have took place on the 26th of January near Law Naw Village, Win Ye Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State. FBR said the villagers…

General Ner Dah Mya, head of the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) has called for Burma’s government to “show sincerity” and commit to a ‘sincere peace’ process. General Ner Dah has just presented a speech at a KNDO base in southern Karen State, honoring the efforts of the Karen in their 64-year-long struggle with Burma’s military regime. Walking over, he…

The General Secretary of the Karen National Union, P’Doh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, called for Karen unity at a ceremony marking the 65th Karen Revolution Day, at Hpa-an district, 7th Brigade headquarters. “We need to rebuild the unity of the Karen people. The Burma’s [Army’s] Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) were once a part…

Burma’s National ID Cards grant relative freedom of travel, allow voting in national elections, access to official schools. Denied for decades basic government services, villagers in Karen State view Burma’s National ID Card scheme with a mix of confusion, indifference, and even fear. Some of the Karen interviewed for this story, referred to the government issued cards as ‘Burma ID…

A report by a human rights groups claims Chin Christians are facing state discrimination and being denied their religious freedom. Ethnic Chin Christians in Burma’s impoverished Chin State continue to face religious discrimination from Buddhist government authorities, according to a report released by a prominent Chin human rights organization. Chin Human Rights Organization country coordinator Salai Bawi Pi said that…

An aid worker has confirmed to Karen News that a fire broke out at Umpiem Mai Refugee Camp, Tak Province, today, burning 11 houses. A further 28 houses had their roofing removed to stop the fire from spreading. The aid worker said no one was injured. “The fire happened to occur when there was a camp meeting with NGO’s, The…

Naw K’nyaw Paw Nimrod, General Secretary of the Karen Women Organization (KWO) has been selected as the winner of the 2013 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award, on 31st January 2014, Karen Revolution Day. The award ceremony was held on the evening of the Karen 65th Revolutionary Day at Day-Pu-Noh village in the Karen National Union’s 5th Brigade in Karen…

In a move to be prepared for the national election in 2015, the Hpa-an based Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP) held a plenary conference to spell out the party’s policies. The PSDP is one of the four of Karen parties taking part in the 2010 election. The PSDP told the meeting held on Jan 18 in Hpa-an, Karen State, that its…