Articles

Today the Karen National Union issued an extraordinary statement detailing what appears to be a major split in their organization. The news of a split comes at a bad time for the Karen as their political organization is holding a series of high-level peace-talks with the Burmese government. The KNU statement said, “Lt. General Mutu Say Po, together with a…

Parents of high school graduates in Three Pagoda Pass Town in Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State allege the headmistress of the school is demanding excessive fees for the university entrance exam application form. A parent of a high school graduate, said the going rate in Kyain Seikgyi Township is 2,500kyat a student, Daw Khin Hla Wai, the headmistress of Three…

The Mae Tao Clinic on the Thai Burma border treats as many as 150,000 migrants and refugees each year, has now called for the Burma government to make the restructuring of its worn-out health system a funding priority. Dr. Cynthia Maung, the founder of the Mae Tao Clinic, provided insights in a briefing paper after she met with members of…

Organizers of a peaceful protest in Rangoon last week said at the time that they were willing to test the law, now that authorities have arrested them. Today nine of the demonstrators that took part in last week’s protests held during the United Nation’s International Peace Day march in Rangoon have been charged by police and could face up to…

The regions biggest development investment will threaten local livelihoods, cause environmental risks, and could displace thousands of locals, according to a Thai non-government organisation. A Thai based environmental advocacy organisation, The Foundation for Ecological Recovery (FER), has raised concerns regarding the Italian-Thai Development Public Company’s construction of a large deep seaport and industrial complex at Dawei, in southern Burma and…

An influenza outbreak in Northern Pa-pun Township has infected more than 1,467 villagers including children, according to health workers. The Back Pack Health Worker Team told Karen News that a specific influenza virus type has infected 1467 villagers from the Pla Koh and Ler Mu Plaw village tract in Pa-pun Township. Saw Win Kyaw, director of the BPHWT said. “This…

A sign of the easing of restrictions on its citizens by the Burma government are that Karen languages are now being openly taught in a public space in Rangoon. Karen language classes are to be given free to anyone interested in learning the three different ethnic languages offered by Thamathambuda Buddhist Karen Library on Arzarni Street, the eastern gate of…

The release of 19 Karen political prisoners has raised the hopes that the country’s remaining 800 prisoners of conscience will soon be freed. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoner (Burma) this weeksaid that on Monday, the Burma government released 514 prisoners under the criminal law procedure article 401 (1) and among those released, were 19 Karen political prisoners. The 19…

A leading political prisoner advocate group has cast doubts over the sincerity behind the reasons for the release of some of the country’s prisoners earlier this week. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoner (Burma) who have advocate on behalf of Burma’s political prisoners for more than a decade said in a media statement that President U Thein Sein’s amnesty granted…

A peak ethnic group has urged its member organizations, currently holding ‘peace-talks’ with the government, to stop all communications if the Burma Army continues its offensive against the Kachin. The Ethnic Nationalities Council (Union of Burma), an umbrella ethnic group, yesterday, issued a statement following their Third Annual Meeting (from September 11 to 12), held at a undisclosed area on…