Articles

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Mae Sot told refugees at Umpiem Mai camp their registration depends on permission from the Thai government even if the UN agency is willing to grant UN refugee status to people. Staff from the UNHCR Mae Sot office were in Umpiem Mai refugee camp on May 16 to explain the refugee…

The Burmese Association of Thailand along with Thai authorities rescued 80 Burmese migrant workers that were being illegally held by their employer at the San Tit shrimp factory in Maha Chai near Bangkok. According to a member of the BAT team the abused workers were confused about the identity of their rescuers. “We weren’t there to arrest them. We had…

The Burma Army is accused of ongoing human rights violations –including the use of violent torture- according to a report by a grassroots humanitarian organization, the Karen Human Rights Group. The human rights violations come amidst recent ceasefire agreements signed between Burma’s government and the two separate branches of Karen armed resistance – the Karen National Liberation Army, and the…

Colonel Moe Phyu, a senior officer with the Karen National Liberation Army, served 37 of his 62 years in the Karen revolution, died on May 11th from complication related to hypertension and diabetes. Colonel Moe Phyu started his military career as a private in the KNLA, but quickly rose through the ranks to become a Colonel with the position of…

Naw Zipporah Sein, the Karen National Union’s general secretary welcomed a statement from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi calling for more development in ethnic areas. Noble peace prize Laurent, Aung San Suu Kyi, asked for foreign investors and international development aid providers to consider working not only in central Burma, but also in ethnic rural areas. Aung San Suu Kyi…

This morning the Karen National Union officially opened its third liaison office in Three Pagoda Pass Town, Dooplaya District, Karen State to help cooperation between the KNU and the Burma government. KNU sources said that the liaison office will make working with the Burma Army to put the agreed ceasefire arrangements in place a lot easier and more practical. The…

The Karen National Union is to open a new liaison branch office at Three Pagoda Pass in Dooplaya district of Karen State on May 15, according to a local officer from the KNU. A Karen National Liberation Army officer said the liaison office, in Three Pagoda Pass, Dooplaya District, will make working with the Burma Army to put the ceasefire…

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army leader, General Saw Ler Pwe responded to allegations by the Thai government that he is a major drug dealer by holding a press conference with 42 Thai, Burmese and exiled journalists in the Myawaddy Township area close to Thai Burma border. General Saw Ler Pwe [also known as Na Khan Mway] denied repeated accusations made…

The Karen National Union (KNU) are to ask the Burma Government to clarify the role of business groups involved as advisors in the ‘peace talk’ negotiations. The KNU has questioned the motives of the business advisors involvement in the ceasefire talks after concerned Karen people raised questions about the potential of a conflict of interest. Karen observers said some of…

Humanitarian groups say displaced refugees living in temporary camps in Kachin State are in desperate need for better shelter as the monsoon season nears. Fighting between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independent Army continues forcing more villagers into camps and increasing demands on the limited resources available. Moon Nay Li, a coordinator with the Kachin Women’s Association explained that…