Articles

A suspension bridge in Mae Ra Ma Luang refugee camp that was swept away in the worst floodwaters seen for 50 years in northern Thailand has been rebuilt by international NGO’s, including the Thailand Burma Border Consortium. The Karen Refugee Committee said the suspension footbridge in the Mae Ra Ma Luang Refugee Camp that links Section 7A to 7B and…

The Women League of Burma has called for an end to the civil war and atrocities with other six points of recommendation to the Burma government in their statement released on 21st September to mark the United Nation’s International Day of Peace. The WLB’s statement agrees and respects calls made by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in her open letter…

Last week the Karen National Union announced in a media statement that it would hold a ceasefire day to acknowledge the United Nation’s International Day of Peace. The KNU statement asked the Burma government to do likewise. “To demonstrate our commitment to peace, and respect for the United Nations, the KNU will observe a unilateral one-day ceasefire on 21st September…

The Pa-an based Plone-Swor Democratic Party of Karen State is to launch a monthly journal in the coming Karen New Year. The magazine will cover politics, Karen issues and international news. The new magazine is set to challenge the government’s claims that it is serious about creating media free environment. According to the PSDP’s youth chairman, S’Be Kyin Oo, a…

The Union Solidarity and Development Party, Burma’s ruling party are on a recruitment drive to gain party members in Karen State, according to local residents. Local USDP members in Three Pagoda Pass area of Kyain Seikgyi Township in Karen State are campaigning in villages around the region to get more Karen to join their party. An eyewitness to the USDP…

Nan Paw Gay editor of Karen News said the death last week of Shan journalist Sai Hseng Zeun aka U Sein Kyi, will be a huge loss, not only to his community, but to ethnic journalism in particular. “There are not so many ethnic journalists with the experience and commitment that Sai Hseng Zeun had. His death is a huge…

The Karen National Union has taken a tougher stance and banned all Italian-Thai Development Company vehicles from using the Tavoy-Kanchanaburi road that links southern Burma to Kanchanaburi in Thailand. A KNU official (who requested that their name not be used) told Karen News that the KNU informed the Italian-Thai Development (ITD) Company representatives that they travel and use of the…

A Karen political party, Plao-Swaw Democratic Party (PSDP) urged the European Union to help civilians in Papun, Kyain Seikygi and southern Kawkariek Township, Karen state. The request comes after Ms Kristalina Georgieva, the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, officially visited Burma in early September and promised 22 euro million in aid for civilians living in…

Flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains killed two residents of Mae La refugee camp this week. According to Saw Ah Mu, the camp security officer, Saw Pe Klay 19, a high school student, was swept away by the fast floodwaters in the Htee Nu stream as he was crossing on his way to school. Saw Ah Mu said that Saw…

Karen soldiers attacked and destroyed Burma Army food supplies on a controversial highway construction linking southern Burma to Thailand. A source from the Karen National Liberation Army’s 4th Brigade told Karen News, that on September 10, KNLA soldiers burnt and destroyed Burma Army rations that were being transported by a civilian truck commandeered by the army. The KNLA source said…