Articles

Tension between soldiers from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and Border Guard Force troops has forced at least 50 villagers from Mae Tha Waw village, Hlaingbwe Township to seek temporary refuge across the border in Thailand. Post Views: 633

A fire that broke out around midday at Umpiem Mai camp, in Tak province destroyed a third of the camp – more than a 1,000 houses, three mosques and two nursery schools. The humanitarian organization, the Thai Burma Border Consortium, Burma state on their website. “Patients evacuated from the clinic are now taking shelter in the food warehouse. Some people…

The Karen National Union said they are unsure if they will be able to meet the 45-day time frame agreed to with the Burma government during the last ceasefire meeting. Naw Zipporah Sein, general secretary of the KNU spoke to Karen News. “We are not sure if we can meet with Burma government this [February] month. At the moment, we…

In an effort to develop unity and peace, representatives from different religions within Karen society came together for a seminar held on the Thai-Burma border last week. The purpose for the seminar is for religious leaders to involve in the process of bringing peace and unity among Karen. Post Views: 627

A huge fire has destroyed as many as 1,000 houses at Umpiem Refugee Camp, 87km south of the Tak town of Mae Sot. A teacher at the camp explained to Karen News that the fire has destroyed large sections of the camp. “Section 9,8,7 and 6 are all gone, completely burnt. It’s dry and windy and the wind has turned…

Local villagers affected by the development of the controversial Dawei (Tavoy) Special Economic Zone in Southern Burma say they are disappointed with the team from Chulalongkorn University Environmental Research Institute hired by the Italian-Thai Development Company to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the project. Post Views: 831

A Karen leader warns that the Burma government’s offers of ‘business opportunities’ to the various Karen and other ethnic armed factions in territory controlled by the Karen National Union will create conflict and fuel tension. A government newspaper, *Kyaymon*, reported that a breakaway group known as the KNU/KNLA Peace Council signed an initial seven-point agreement on 6thFebruary in the country’s…

The lawyer of Karen National Union leader, U Kyi Myint, said he would defend all charges against Padoh Mahn Nyein Maung, who is now being held in Insein Prison. The lawyer, U Kyi Myint told Karen News that he will try to find the way to defend the major charges keeping the KNU leader in jail. “I will defend him…

It is four years since the assassination of former Karen leader Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan and his killers have yet to be brought to justice. Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan was the Karen National Union general secretary at the time of his murder by unknown assassins in his office in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. The KNU’S…

Access to education for Karen children is compromised by lack of schools, poverty, conflict, displacement, and low or no wages for teachers. Makeshift schools on the Thai Burma border often offer the only chance for young Karen to get an education. The sound of teenagers chanting in English and Karen echoes off the tin roof as teachers point to symbols…