Articles

Aid workers are concerned the numbers of refugees fleeing from the conflict between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independent Army is increasing. The number of villagers now internally displaced has jumped from 30,000 to 35,000 as fighting continues. The KIA estimates that there has been 62 major clashes happened so far this month. The KIA say against this backdrop…

The Karenni National Progressive Party has urged Japan’s government to reconsider its involvement in the No.2 Lawpita Hydro-power plant in Karenni State under the Oversea Development Assistance program. Ku Oo Rei, secretary for the Karenni National Progressive Party, blamed Burma’s government for force relocation, human and animal landmine causalities and a lack of compensation for villagers who lose their land…

A bomb explosion near Manban village in Kutkai Township, Northern Shan State, killed at least three Burma Army soldiers and wounded four. According to a local eyewitness – a captain, a second lieutenant, and a corporal from the Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 522 and 507 were killed in at least two huge explosions near Lashio Township. “The bomb exploded…

The United National Federal Council claim in a statement released this week that President Thein Sein’s peace offer to ethnic armed groups is only an attempt to break up the unity of the UNFC. Naing Han Tha, general secretary of the UNFC said that the government peace offer is to divide ethnic alliance and it won’t lead anywhere. “They [Burma…

Thousands of well-wishers turned up at the Children Development Center, a migrant school based in the border town of Mae Sot to celebrated Dr. Cynthia Maung’s 52nd birthday on the 6th December. Dr Cynthia founded the Mae Tao Clinic in 1989 to treat refugees and migrant workers from Burma. The Clinic is located in the Thai-Burma border town of Mae…

The Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, linking Burma and Thailand border town was reopened early today after been closed since July 2010. Border authorities from both countries attended the bridge reopening ceremony with as many as 200 locals. In a symbolic gesture balloons were released from the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge near Rim Moei, Mae Sot district. In Myawaddy Town, on the the…

The Kachin Independence Army denied accusations made in Burma’s state run media that they had been involved in killing civilians. Lan Nan, a senior spokesperson for the KIA spoke to Karen News. “All statements made by the [Burma] government are totally false. The real culprit is the Burma Army who shelled from Khaung Phu village on the Irrawaddy River to…

The Karen people from Tenasserim Division in southern Burma are challenging new government restrictions on celebrating Karen New Year in the Division capital, Tavoy. A Karen elder in Tavoy, who does not want to be named, told Karen News that Tenasserim’s Government Chief Minister, former Lt. Gen. Khin Zaw, has forbidden large celebrations of Karen New Year. The Karen elders…

Three Burma Army soldiers were killed and six soldiers wounded by Karen soldiers last week during an ambush on the Tavoy-Kanchanaburi road in southern Burma. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a KNU military Brigade 4 source said the Karen soldiers ambushed a Burma Army column from Light Infantry Battalion 407 on November 26 near the Law Aw deserted village. Two…

Late last month the Karen National Liberation Army launched an attack on a Burma Army column in the Myit Tan area, Tanintharyi Division and killed three soldiers and wounded six soldiers. An unnamed source close to the Burma Army told Karen News that the KNLA, Brigade 4 launched a morning attack on a 120 soldier column led by Major Min…