Articles

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…

Karen Community Based Organizations issued a position paper on the repatriation of refugees along the Thai-Burma border back to Burma saying it is critical that they are included in the process. The KCBO in a statement paper said that all pre-conditions should be met and procedures need to be in place before refugees are returned otherwise it will be against…

Villagers claim they are paying full amounts for a full electricity service they are not receiving. Residents from Larkar village claim that authorities require them to pay the full rate electricity bills even though the power is often cut-off. Larkar village is located on the western part of the Salween River in Hpa-an Township in Karen State. A woman Larkar…

Gunshots disrupted the elections of the political wing of the armed militia, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, when a former village head disagreed with the result. As a result of the election fiasco, General Saw Ler Pwe (also known as Bo Na Kham Mwe), the patron of the DKBA’s political wing, the KloHtooBaw Karen Organisation, released an official statement to…