Ceasefire

The participation of the Karen people in the decision-making process at the national level is key in preventing the Karen from being subjected to on-going forms of oppression and exploitation by the military dominated Burma government. The Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burmese government’s decision to sign the ceasefire agreement are hopeful first steps towards finding a solution to…

The recent first-round of ‘peace talks’ between the Karen National Union and the Burma government in Pa-an on 12th January raised a lot of expectations within the international community, the Burmese community and among Karen people living inside Burma and those living overseas. In a series of interviews, Karen people shared with Karen News their opinion, their hopes and thoughts…

Karen National Union delegates at last week’s ceasefire talks with the Burma government in Pa-an claim they were given assurances that the jailed KNU central committee member P’doh Mahn Nyein Maung would be released. The KNU says the Home Minister, Lt-Gen Ko Ko, contradicted the government’s promise when he briefed reporters last Saturday on the outcome of the ‘peacetalks’. “Legal…

Last week’s accord with the government brought the feeling that times are really changing in Burma, but bitter experiences of the past are prompting questions of why the KNU left the table without firm guarantees. It was a heart-pounding moment for many Karen around the world waiting to hear the outcomes of Thursday’s peace talks between the Karen National Union…

The Karen National Union’s ‘peace talk’ delegation team, followed-up their Pa-an ceasefire discussions with a meeting with Burma’s s Vice President, Sai Mauk Kham in the country’s capital, Nay Pyi Daw. A member of the KNU delegation, Brigadier General Johnny and the Commander of the Karen National Liberation Army Brigade 7th area told Karen News about the delegations trip to…

Following ceasefire talks with the Burma Government last week in Pa-an the Karen National Union issued a statement today to make clear their commitment to the peace process. The KNU, 19-member delegation, met with Railways Minister, U Aung Min, and representatives of the Burmese government on Thursday last week. The KNU statement explained that the two parties had agreed in…

The Karen National Union’s general secretary Naw Zipporah Sein and a member of the KNU’s Peace Committee said further talks would be needed with the Burma government representatives after yesterday’s meeting in Pa-an town, Karen State. KNU general secretary Naw Zipporah Sein told Karen News. “We signed an agreement with them [government] at the state level. This signed agreement is…

Yesterday, a 19-member Karen National Union delegation held talks with Burma government representatives, led by Railways Minister, Aung Min, in Pa-an, Karen State to discuss a ceasefire agreement. A KNU spokesperson confirmed to Karen News what the talks had achieved. “The KNU delegation reached an initial agreement with the Burma government’s representatives towards a ceasefire agreement. When the delegation returns…

KNU leader refutes today’s media stories that the Karen had signed a ceasefire with the Burma government. Saw David Thrackbaw, the Karen National Union vice-chairmen told Karen News that no ceasefire agreement has yet been signed with the Burma government delegation despite numerous media stories. Burma’s Railway Minister, U Aung Min is in charge of the government’s delegation while the…

A network of Karen community–based-organisations on the Thai Burma border on the eve of official ceasefire talks between the Karen National Union and the Burma government have issued a media statement calling for third party observers to be involved. The group calling itself the Karen Community Based Organisations (KCBO) issued a media statement today that said. “There must be third-party…