Articles

Fighting between the Kachin Independent Army and The Burma Army has forced the closure of 10 schools in the Mai Jar Yan area of Mong Mao Township in Kachin State. Residents say they fear there will be intense fighting in the area and they worry for the safety of their children. A woman villager from Mai Jar Yan area spoke…

Saw Than Kyaw Oo, the former chairman of the Pa-an based Plone-Swor Democratic Party has applied to form a new political party named the Kayin Democratic Party, according to a Burma government run newspaper, the new party will start with 16 members. Saw Than Kyaw Oo recently resigned from the PSDP after an emergency meeting decision taken on October 30.…

Health workers in the Maija Yang region of Kachin State are worried that the winter cold will be dangerous to young and old people in the makeshift camps built to shelter villagers displaced by fighting between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independent Army. Medics at the camps say they are now seeing many more patients with influenza, diarrhea and…

Over a hundred attendants participated at the debate and quiz program held at the Children Development Center (CDC) school in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. The event was organized by the Women League of Burma to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Among those attending, were high school students, migrant workers and members…

Mortar shells launched by local the Burma Army terrifies local villagers living in the area along the route the Burma Army uses to transport food rations to its soldiers in Papun Township. Villagers said that in Papun areas, it is common, the Burma Army fires mortar rounds into areas they are suspicious of whenever they send their rations to frontline…

An unknown armed group is forcing residents of a Three Pagoda Pass town, Kyain Seikygi Township to pay taxes. Residents say armed group demanded taxes or cash payments from business owners and rich people at Three Pagoda Pass Town. The group approached the residents by letter, phone or face-to-face. A businessman (who asked not to be named for fears for…

The Karen people are hopeful, yet cautious about the recent informal meeting between the Karen National Union and the Burmese government’s ceasefire talks. The KNU which has been lock in a civil war with a series of military governments for the 62 years, last Saturday and Sunday held informal talks with Burma government representatives led by Railway Transport Minister, U…

The Karen National Union denied they have entered into a ceasefire with the Burma government. In an official statement on the ‘Peace Talks’, dated 24th November, the KNU said. “Recent media reports that the Karen National Union (KNU) had agreed to a ceasefire with the Burmese regime, along with several other ethnic organizations, was false. The KNU team of three…

The lives of Ta’ang people in Northern Shan state have been shattered as the Burmese government working hand-in-hand with companies has confiscated their land. The Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO) report that approximately 42,940 acres of land has been confiscated and estimate that over 8,588 families have been affected. The report carried out in Northern Shan State in 10…

Ethnic groups’ leaders from Burma claim it is too early to grant Burma the Association of Southeast Asian Nations chair. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed at the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, to appoint Burma in 2014 to the chairmanship of the regional bloc. Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty M. Natalegawa, speaking to the media said that there have been specific…