Articles

The spokesperson of an Italian non-government organization, Popolis, which has been working in Karen State since 2001, said it would only operate in areas under the control of the Karen National Union. In a statement to Karen News, Popili’s spokesperson (who requested that their name not be used) said. “We have been worried about what has been happening in Karen…

Despite a ceasefire agreement between Burma’s military backed government and the Karen National Union (KNU) in January of this year, community based human rights organisation, Karen Human Rights Group continues to document attacks on civilians. On June 25th, two men from Pa’an Township were accosted and then tortured by members of the Burma Army’s Border Guard Battalion #1014. The interrogation…

An independent human rights organisation has reported that the ceasefire between the government and the Karen national union has brought respite for villagers caught in the 60-year conflict. In the ten months since a preliminary ceasefire agreement was reached between representatives of the Government of Burma and the Karen National Union (KNU), local communities have seen a marked decrease in…

The Karen National Union’s (KNU) next four-year Congress and elections will be held on 26 November. The KNU Congress is also the political organization’s decision-making mechanism. This Congress promises lots of drama – ceasefire agreements and ‘peace-talks’ with the government, divisions within the leadership and a call for power sharing with younger and more accomplished KNU members. After elections are…

Villagers in Myawaddy Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State, have mixed feelings about road building taking place in their area. Villagers say responsible development that brings benefits to all the people is welcome, but they worry that there is a lack of consultation or planning being done. Htee Mu Hta village is not unlike other communities in Karen State at rice…

The Karen Baptist Convention (Burma) has invited officials from the Karen National Union and community based organizations on the Thai-Burma border to attend a meeting tomorrow, November 17, to explain its on-going ‘peace talks’ with the government. Dr. Gabriel, KBC’s executive officer explained to Karen News that the two-day meeting would discuss religious issues, but this year a special segment…

The Nationalities Brotherhood Forum, an ethnic alliance, issued a statement on November 11 expressing their willingness for the emergence of federal system in Burma. After a two-day meeting held on November 10th to 11th, the Nationalities Brotherhood Forum issued a six-point-statement – one of the points said that ‘federalism is not separatism’. Mahn Aung Pyi Sone, vice chairman of the…

The end of the monsoon season has seen the Burma Army repairing supply roads to their bases in Karen State. This has caused Karen army officers to question the strategy behind the rebuilding of the supply roads when the government is supposed to be withdrawing its troops from the region. The Burma Army began repairing the transportation road into Thandaung…

A sergeant from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, an ethnic armed group operating in Northern Shan State, was arrested and killed by Burma Army yesterday while he was on leave and traveling back to his village to see a sick family member. Sergeant Ayaing Aung was travelling to Mout Tan Tay village in Manton Township of Northern Shan State. The…

Access to further education opportunities for migrant children was the subject of a seminar held in the Thai border town of Mae Sot this week. The Thailand based educational organization, Bridging Education Access to Migrants (BEAM), and the Burma Migrant Teachers Association organized a seminar in Mae Sot on November 12 to look at the further education needs of children…