Articles

Thousands of Karen refugees on the Thai Burma border have been resettled in the United States. Nickel City Smiler follows the ups and downs of Smiler Greely, a refugee, as he battles to carve out a new life for his family in Buffalo, New York State. Victoria Jack and Saw Blacktown review the documentary for Karen News. After escaping horrific…

The Moei River breeched its banks and flooded the Burma border town of Myawaddy and as many as 5,000 residents homes were affected by the floodwaters. It is estimated that as many as 25,000 people in Karen State have been made homeless by the floods. Sources from a community-based group who are helping the flood victims said that the water…

In a recent meeting Karen armed forces agreed to unite and to join forces to work together to achieve self-determination. The Karen National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the KNU/KNLA Peace Council agreed at a meeting held in the Burma border town of Myawaddy, to work together on Karen national affairs under one political objective. Following…

In an effort to protect lands that were confiscated or stolen for recent development projects and business development in Karen State, the Karen National Union is working on a land policy that will then be proposed to the Burma government. A KNU source said that the organization would modify its current land policy that had been set up to protect…

Floodwaters in the Thai Burma border towns of Mae Sot and Myawaddy have started to fall. Residents on both sides of the border have started to clear away the debris brought by the floodwaters. The director of the Burma Children Medical Fund, Kanchana Thornton explained to Karen News that the floods had played havoc with patients’ treatment schedules. “We need…

The River Moei broke its banks on the Thai Burma border today after heavy rains lashed the area over the last week. The commercial business district of Mae Sot is under heavy floodwaters. Many shops and restaurants have closed their doors as the floodwaters are expected to continue to rise. Mae Tao Clinic had to shut its services down as…

Burma’s government released 73 prisoners on the 23rd of July, a move welcomed by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). The AAPP is cautious in it’s praise of the current release of political prisoners made by Burma’s government. “Despite the positive steps taken in freeing those imprisoned, there is still the increasing issue of the number of current activists…

A diplomat from the British Embassy in Rangoon met with member of a Karen political party to discuss ethnic issues and the ongoing political reforms taking place in Burma. Mr Joseph Fisher, the second secretary at the British Embassy said at the meeting with the Phalon Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), that ethnic issues are a crucial factor in Burma’s transition…

Villagers in Htantabin Township witnessed the Burma Army putting up placards claiming their land that was confiscated under the former military regime. Villagers said that the Burma Army put up the placards on the disputed land on July 20. Villagers said the original landowners are currently in negotiations to get back their confiscated farmlands returned to them through the government’s…

A prominent human rights group has called into question President Thein Sein’s recent commitment to clear Burma’s jails of prisoners of conscience by the end of the year, with a human rights activist jailed in Rakhine State the same day the announcement was made. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma issued a statement calling for the President’s words…