Articles

The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) leadership has stated that they will not consider proposals to form political parties or accept Burma’s flawed 2008 constitution while the parliament is dominated by military figures. Mutual mistrust is rife between Burma’s government and ethnic groups, which have often been in armed conflict with one another. “For the method of negotiation to be…

The Burmese government and the Karen National Union (KNU) will meet on 27 August in Hpa-an to discuss a newly drafted ‘ceasefire code of conduct’ that has been prepared by the Karen National Union. Meeting today in the Burma border town of Myawaddy, both sides agreed to meet again to negotiate the detail of the ‘cease-fire code of conduct’. Naw…

The Shan State Army claims continuing attacks on their bases by government troops is disrupting the peace process agreed between the two sides in February this year. The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) signed a ceasefire in February, but recent attacks by government soldiers has left other ethnic armed groups to consider if the military ceasefires a…

Health organizations and non-governmental organizations from inside Burma and those based on the Thailand border attended a seminar on July 28 to review and plan for health services. According to Mahn Mahn, the secretary of the seminar organizers, the Back Pack Heath Worker Team, by the discussed ways to adapt current health programs based along the border to fit into…

The Karenni National Progressive Party opened keep to ceasefire agreement with the government by opening its second and third liaison offices last week. Khu Denia from the KNPP confirmed to Karen News. “We agreed to open three liaison offices – this we have done. We have opened liaison offices in Loi Kaw, Hpasawng and the Shadaw area. We will work…

After she finishes her study, Naw Hsa K’Mwee Paw wants to become a medic to help her village. To achieve her dream Naw Hsa K’Mwee Paw has had to pay a high price. Naw Hsa K’Mwee Paw, now 18, has had to live hundreds of miles apart from her family since she was 13 so she could study in a…

S’Aik Klate’s, 9 years old, an ethnic Pwo Karen boy from War Khe Ma Township in Irrawaddy Division, is working at a cold drink shop in the village called “Gayan”. The village is not S’Aik Klate’s hometown, but he came to work there with his father and brother during the summer. The Pwo are one of the two main sub-ethnic…

Ka Loat Hta villagers are dissatisfied with the Italian-Thai Company relocation plans for their village that will make way for a hydropower dam that will flood their homes and farmlands. A villager from Ka Loat Hta told Karen News that people would have to move even though they do not want to. “The relocation hasn’t started yet, but they [ITD]…

People in the eastern Burma town of Kyain Seikgyi have welcomed a joint health campaign program by government and international malaria experts to combat malaria in the their area in Karen State. The township hospital director, Dr.Maung Maung Lwin, confirmed to Karen News that Population Services International-Myanmar (PSI), a global health non-government organization based in Burma is carrying out anti-malaria…

Leaders from the Karen and Mon ethnic armed groups have called for Burma’s law makers to put in place legislation to protect ethnic minority’s rights. This follows on the back of the Kutkai constituency representative, U Ti Khun Myat’s, proposal in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) to safeguard ethnic rights through the law. The Karen National Union’s vice chairman, Saw…