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Representatives from the Karen National Union’s central level and from seven districts together with other observers made it to Lay Wah (also known as Law Khee Lar) in Pa-an district Karen State to attend the 16th Congress that started today, March 14, 2017. The KNU representatives and observers from the Karen political parties, Karen armed groups and Karen civil society…

The largest refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border experienced a rash of suicide cases last year, mainly among the youth population, according to a doctor and camp resident. In 2016, there were 57 suicide attempts at Mae La refugee camp, 23 of which resulted in death, according to figures provided by a camp member recording the cases. “When we were…

Local villagers living near the Taungalay Mountain quarry plants to stop the quarry as they claimed it has harmed their villages and environment. The Taungalay quarry plant is located between Upper Kawtyin village tract and Naung Kyan village tract in Hpa-an Township. Saw Zar Li, a villager from Taungone village near the quarry plant said most villagers do not want…

Trucks delivering food assistance to the displaced people at the temporary camps in Myaing Gyi Ngu are now a rare sight. Camp warehouses are almost empty as the more than 3,000 displaced villagers from the Mae Tha Waw area are still unable to return to their homes. The fighting that broke out in September 2016 between the breakaway Democratic Karen…

Sa Thu Hlaing Win, a Western Pwo Karen literacy advocate from the Irrawaddy delta region is the winner of the 2016 Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award. Sa Thu Hlaing Win (also known as Sa Khant Thu Hlaing), was presented with the award at the 9th memorial service of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan that was held at Taw Gyaung…

A displaced villager from the Mae Tha Wor area of Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State stepped on a landmine as he and other villagers returned to their village to check their plantations on January 31. Saw Ophar Ngah, a villager from Htee Noh Hta village in Mae Tha Wor area had to have his right leg amputated below knee. Saw Ophar…

A path has opened for environmental conservationists and rights advocates to strengthen their fight against gold mining and other socially and environmentally destructive projects in the rich forests of Karen State in eastern Myanmar: the Salween Peace Park. The 5,200-sq-km Peace Park is a radical initiative to create an indigenous-led sanctuary to protect indigenous cultural heritage and endangered wildlife. Located…

Fortify Rights, an international human rights organization called on the government of China to offer safe refuge to “thousands of ethnic Kachin civilians fleeing ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar and prevent forced returns.” Fortify Rights in a statement on Friday 13 January said Kachin civilians running from the fighting in Burma were caught in a hard place. “China should provide…

The unexpected death of a young Karen woman found in a Bangkok apartment on January 3, 2017, has raised suspicions among the Karen community. The circumstances surrounding the death of the young woman, Nan Pawt Eh Mwee, 22, (also know as) Nan Htay Htay Oo have left many in the Karen migrant communities unconvinced of official explanations. On January 11,…

Medic Saw Baw Mu Say puts on his rubber gloves and says as he prepares to start cleaning a cut on a patients admitted to the Law Mu Thaw-Ler Mu Per Clinic. “We have treated more than 500 people in less than two months after opening the clinic.” Saw Baw Mu Say reaches for dressings from his simple three story-wooden…