Articles

The jailed Karen National Union leader, Padoh Mahn Nyein Maung will go to sentence on 13 March. His lawyer, said the court scheduled the decision date after hearing from both sides on March 8. “I tried to defend him at the hearing and explained to the judge why Padoh Mahn Nyein Maung should be released. The prosecutor also gave reasons…

The Karen Women Organization held a ceremony to honor the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2012 by celebrating their victories and at the same time vowed to continue their fight for the emergence of legal protection and a guarantee of protection of women against violence. Naw Dah Eh Kler, secretary of the KWO spoke to Karen News. “Now in…

Burma’s national journalism awards will be awarded for the first time in decades. The awards will be given to honor individual journalists by the country’s National Press Award Committee on 18th of March. The National Press Award Committee – a selection committee representing members of the Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association (MWJA), independent journalists and officials from the state Press…

The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) agreed with the Burma government to open a liaison office for on-going peace talks after recently signing a state level ceasefire agreement. U Aung San Myint, the KNPP secretary 2, told Karen News. “We signed an agreement with the government for a ceasefire and to open a liaison office.” Ku Oo Rei, the KNPP…

The Karen National Union and the Burma government have agreed to meet in early April to formalize and finalize their preliminary ceasefire arrangement that was reached in a meeting on 12th January in the Karen State town of Pa-an. The KNU general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein, told Karen News. “Both sides agreed to meet in early April to continue to…

After 60 years of military rule, Burma has become one of the least developed countries in the world. Military rule has denied civilians their basic human rights. Militarisation by the Burma Army (Tamadaw) in ethnic areas such as Karen, Shan and Kachin States continues to cause severe humanitarian problems in Burma. Forced displacement, forced relocation, forced labor, extortion, are all…

The Karen Women Organization issued a media statement late last night condemning the attempted rape of a 22-year-old mother who was “viciously attacked yesterday by two soldiers of the Burma Army on Sunday this week.” The KWO told Karen News that they have taken the young woman into their care. The KWO statement alleged the two soldiers attempted to rape…

Two soldiers from the Burma Army attempted to rape a Karen woman in a location near the Thai border village of Mulu Chai [opposite Thay Baw Boe village on the Burma side], Phophra district in Tak province, Thailand. On 5th of March 2012 at about 4 pm, two men Burma Army soldiers abducted a 22-year- old Karen woman on a…

Karen ethnic organizations, from both inside Burma and overseas, attended a conference organized by the Karen Worldwide alliance. The conference ran for four days, from 27th February to 1st March, and was held inside Karen State. Karen Worldwide say the conference was called in response to the current political situation in Burma. A media statement released by Karen Worldwide estimates…

Ms K’nyaw Paw an executive member of the Karen Women’s Organization and Presidium Board Member of Women’s League of Burma told Karen News that is crucial that women are an integral part of the on-going peace negotiations with the Burma government and the Karen National Union. “It is important that women are represented during the peace talks and that are…