Articles

The Karen State Social Welfare Department announced the Myanmar government will give support to pregnant mothers and their children (under two) starting from January, 2019. U Zaw Min, Director of the Department of Social Welfare, told Karen News pregnant women and children under two years old (or under 1,000 days) will be given financial support the government under its Strategic…

Armed clashes in January 2019 between troops from the Karen National Liberation Army and Burma Army soldiers in Northern Papun District of Karen State. KNLA sources reported that two armed skirmishes happened on January 5 and 13 in the Karen National Union’s controlled Papun (Mutraw) area between the KNLA Brigade 5 and Burma Army units operating in the area. Major…

Advocacy group Burma Campaign UK published its ‘Dirty List’ in early December 2018, slamming 49 international companies accused of “operating in Myanmar in such a way that contributes to human rights violations and environmental destruction.” Burma Campaign UK Revives ‘Dirty List’ Following Recent Atrocities This is the first time Burma Campaign UK has published a ‘Dirty List’ since the country…

Amid increasing cases of land disputes in Burma, the country’s Parliament on September, 2018 ratified a controversial land law. The new law has been opposed by civil society and human right groups and the Karen National Union. The KNU released a statement on December 15 calling for the elimination of the newly enacted “Vacant, Fallow, and Virgin Land Management Law…

The Karen Peace Support Network put out a statement condemning the conviction and jailing of three Kachin peace activists claiming the action is designed to silence the criticism of Myanmar’s military and its abuses. The three Kachin activists, Lum Zawng, Nang Pu and Zau Jat were involved in protests to demand the military allow trapped civilians safe passage from the…

To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women that falls on November 25, the Karen Women Organization (KWO) launched 16 days of activism with event held at Lay Ger Kler, Ta Mo Daw (Kyauk Taung) village in Thaton District, Karen State. Under the banner of a ‘Future Generation Free from all forms of Violence’ the KWO…

A third batch of refugees from camps along the Thai-Burma border who wishes to voluntarily want to return to Burma are being processed by officials from the UN refugee agency and Burma and Thailand. In Mae La camp, the largest camp on the Thai Burma border, fewer people showed up at the processing center. Officials from the Royal Thai Government…

The Phan Foundation urged on all young Karen leaders living anywhere in the world to nominate for the 2018 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award. The award officially opened called for nominations on November, 21st, the closing date is December 31, 2018. Slone Phan, the director of Phan Foundation and the youngest son of Padoh Mahn Shar Lar Phan spoke…

Villagers living near the Myaing Kalay cement factory in Hpa-an, Karen State have asked for operators to stop the storing and transporting of coal used to run the 4,000 ton Myaing Kalay cement factory. Local residents made their request on November 10, following the spilling of coal from trucks while being transported from the port to the cement factory. The…

The director of the Karen Development Network-KDN said that existing peace process between the government and the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) is no more than ceasefire position. The director of KDM Rev. Matthew Aye gave the comment during the introduction ceremony of people’s analysis report on 12 November in Hpa-an, Karen State. According to Rev. Matthew Aye, the report has…