Burma

The Karen National Union’s Taw Oo [Taungoo] district burned seized methamphetamine pills worth 400 million Kyat (around USD $350,000) in an event to mark the international Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking that was held on June 26. The event was held by the KNU’s armed wing, at the Karen National Liberation Army 2nd Brigade controlled area in Tantabin…

A Karen National Union controlled checkpoint is fuelling tension between the Burma Army in southern Burma. The KNU checkpoint at Htee Khee, in Megui/Tavoy District [Tanintharyi Region] had been ordered by the local Burma Army commander to move out last week. The Burma Army order was given twice – first by a Htee Hta based tactical commander from Military Operations…

The Karen Women’s Organisation released a statement to commemorate the 2016 World Refugee Day and said that despite recent positive changes in Burma people are still being displaced by Burma Army offensives. “Despite the on-going peace process in Burma today, thousands of ethnic people are fleeing fighting, and many of them are not able to cross international borders to safety.”…

The number of quarries in Mon State is quickly increasing and locals say authorities fail to regulate their environmental impact on farmlands. PAUNG TOWNSHIP, Mon State – On a recent afternoon in May, the farmers of Ohn Titbin Village Tract were tending to their betel nut and rubber plantations when a loud blast erupted at the foot of Kalama Mountain…

Migrant student passing the university matriculation examination dropped to 22 % this year causing concerns to migrant teachers on the bias in the current system. According to the matriculation examination results for the 2015-16 academic year announced on 11th of June, only 17 out of 86 students from migrant schools based in Mae Sot had passed. The poor results have…

Human Rights Watch has criticized an assembly law proposed by Burma’s National League of Democracy government, saying it needs “significant revisions” to meet international standards. Burma’s Assembly Law currently requires citizens to apply for government approval for any demonstration, and that notice is given at least 48 hours before a planned demonstration. HRW welcomed some elements of the new proposal,…

Last year’s floods and other extreme weather events have prompted many farmers in Ayeyarwady Delta to leave some of their land fallow. ZALUN Township, Ayeyarwady Region — Aung Kywe remembers how he had to stand by helplessly last year when massive floods in the wake of Cyclone Komen affected Ayeyarwady Delta and destroyed half of his 14 acres of paddy.…

May Day 2016, workers around the world took to the streets and city parks to rally and march to show their solidarity and support for their workplace rights. Trade unionists started the May Day celebrations, also known as International Workers Day in Chicago in 1886, when they demanded and won an eight-hour workday, today it is celebrated by workers from…

A human rights advocacy organisation has led calls to release three prominent religious tolerance activists. The activists, Zaw Zaw Latt, Pwint Phyu Latt and Zaw Win Bo, are Muslim and Hindu members of Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar – Peace Seekers and Multiculturalist Movement – a foundation created to promote tolerance between Burma’s different religious groups. Burma Campaign UK called…

Refugees responded to a senior Tak Province official speaking about the repatriation of the more than 100,000 refugees from Burma living in camps along the Thai-Burmese border by claiming that withdrawal of support by international donors is their immediate concern. Suttha Saivanid, the Tak Deputy-Governor said the Thai government had been in contact with Burma’s recently elected National League for…