Articles

Saw Moo Wah lives in Naung Bo village. His village is one of 11 that are situated along the Sittang River in Pegu Division in the southern central part of Burma. The local economy is based around its natural resources and agriculture. The major crop in Pegu Division is rice which uses about two thirds of the available agricultural land.…

A bomb exploded near the busy Hle Dan junction in Rangoon at 11am this morning killing one and wounding pedestrians. An eyewitness spoke to Karen News (under the condition of anonymity) said the bomb exploded at a public toilet close to Hle Dan junction. “The bomb explosion killed one woman and an injured man was taken to Yangon Hospital. The…

Yesterday, an unknown armed group going by the initials BBK, hijacked 16 trucks belonging to the Italian-Thai Development Company working on the controversial Tavoy-Kanchanaburi highway been built in Southern Burma. An Italian-Thai Development Company officer (who did not want to be name for security reasons) told Karen News about the hijacking. “Early morning, five armed men, equipped with MA-2 rifles…

Burma’s state owned newspaper, Kyaymon [The Mirror], reported early this week that representatives from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and representatives from the central level of Thein Sein’s government met for the first time on December 11 in Pa-an Town, Karen State. Based on an agreement reached at a preliminary meeting on 3rd November, representatives from the DKBA, led by…

Despite the government’s calls for ‘peace talks’, humanitarian groups and official Karen political parties claim the Burma Army is still committing abuses against civilians in Eastern Burma. Representatives from the Karen National Union and Burma government officials have met several times recently to try to reach a ceasefire agreement. Civilian sources say while the politicians are talking the Burma Army…

Despite President Thein Sein’s public declared order for the Burma Army to stop fighting the Kachin Army, reinforcements were sent to the battle zones by military helicopters and the offensive continues. Lan Nan, a senior spokesperson for the KIA said. “Fighting continues in our Brigade 3 area of Momauk. They [Burma Army] sent three loads of soldiers by helicopter from…

A humanitarian network comprised of 11 groups from Mandalay delivered humanitarian assistances to children and refugees affected by the ongoing fighting in Kachin State. Ko Ye Yint Kyaw, a member of the humanitarian network – “Children’s Lover Network Group” – explained to Karen News that the network, led by a senior monk, have been giving aid to displaced camps located…

The Karen National Union and the Pa’an Town-based Karen Peace Committee met on the Thai Burma border in early December to discuss recent ceasefire discussions held between the KNU and government officials. KNU representatives, led by general secretary Naw Zipporah Sein, met with three KPC members for more than three hours. KNU Forestry Minister, Padoh Saw Ah Toe said the…

A report from the Karen Human Rights Group accuses the Burma Army of attacks and threats of violence against civilians in eastern Burma. The KHRG report indicates that Burma’s civilian administration has done nothing to protect innocent people in Eastern Burma. The report also says that conflict has intensified in Karen State as the Tatmadaw [Burma Army] comes into conflict…

The Phan Foundation has officially announced their acceptance of nominees for the 4th year of Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award until the cut-off on January 31, 2012. The Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award is given annually to Karen community workers who work in health, education, social or cultural areas. According to the Foundation criteria, nominees should be Karen…