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Over 1,000 teachers need to be recruited after the Ministry of Education upgraded 261 government schools in the Karen State within this month, according to the state education officer U Soe Myint. Nine high schools, ten high school branches, 53 middle schools, 21 middle school branches, 31 post-primary schools, 99 primary schools, and 38 primary school branches have been upgraded…

The Australian Karen Organisation wrote to Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop to ask her to use her position to pressure Burma’s government and its Army to immediately withdraw its soldiers from ethnic regions. The AKO explained in its letter to Ms Bishop, that “despite the efforts of the International Community to endorse genuine peace, the Burmese Military have increased their…

The Karen Youth Organization (KYO)’s chair Saw Ler Ner has urged more cooperation between ethnic youths in the situation where Burma’s political transition cannot guarantee basic rights of ethnic people. “We are still fighting the battles using the political movement to obtain national equality and self-determination. As we were ruled by the British under the divide and rule [policy], there…

The Australian Karen Organization rallied outside the Burmese Embassy in Canberra to protest against the Burma Army’s recent attacks on villages in Karen State. Members of the Australian Karen community travelled from Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne to protest. The Australian Karen organization said in a media statement that the Canberra demonstration was part of a Global Karen Protest against attacks…

The Kachin Woman’s Association Thailand issued a statement on May 15, 2018 contradicting claims made by Burma Army commanders that recent offensives against the Kachin Independence Army did not target civilians. The statement said KWAT interviews with displaced people had “revealed in April 2018 Burma Army troops committed war crimes against villagers in three townships in Kachin State: Hpakant, Danai…

Despite Burma Army promises to withdraw its soldiers and stop a construction of a contentious road at the center of the military conflict, thousands displaced villagers are unable to return to their villages in northern Karen State. In an interview with Karen News, Padoh Saw Tender, chairperson of the Karen National Union’s Mutraw (Papun) district said that although the road…

Thai-Burma border-based health organizations, local health experts and health experts from overseas, and leaders of ethnic health organizations participated in a health seminar at the Thai-Burma border on May 21-22. The Burma Medical Association (BMA)’s director Saw Nay Htoo, who led the seminar, said the seminar was held to collectively find ways for the emergence of universal health coverage and…

The Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) said it does not want the peace process to be in a standstill and it will continue to work for peace. Military commanders from the KNU/KNLA-PC said this during a meeting between the KNU/KNLA-PC’s regulatory committee and military commanders held in Htoh Kaw Koe of Kawkareik Township, Karen State…

The Karen Peace Support Network (KSPN) issued a statement on May 17 to condemn the government and the Tatmadaw for arresting and suing people involved in peaceful demonstrations where they called for the end of war in various areas in Burma. “We want to highlight how the democracy government handled the ‘Stop War’ and ‘Peace Movement’ activities. Rather than supporting…

Total will install overhead power transmission lines across two townships in the Karen State to transmit power from the LNG (liquefied natural gas) power plant in Kanbauk area of Yebyu Township in the Tanintharyi Region to a 500 kV substation in the Bago Region, according to project officials. The project officials met with local residents in Kan Thar Oo Hall…