ethnic

It is expected representatives from all Karen armed organizations will join the activities for the 70th Karen Revolution Day on January 31 in the Karen National Union’s Pa-An district, in Karen State. Local communities are excited with plans to hold a Karen traditional Don dance competition program at the event for the first time. Saw Tha Mawt Phaung (a.k.a Saw…

November 3rd by-election expressed good perspective in the ethnic constituencies where ethnic political parties gained seats, responsible persons from Karen People’s Party (KPP) and the Karen National Party (KNP) told Karen News. “People’s trust gradually falls back upon the two major parties. The ethnic peoples understand well that they must take hold of their opportunities as well as their rights.…

During its 26th editors’ meeting held at the Thai-Burma border from August 28 to 30, Burma News International (BNI), an alliance of ethnic media groups announced that it has opened the path for new members by amending the membership criteria and is striving to expand ethnic media development. “We only allowed ethnic-based media organizations as members in the past, but…

The National Ethnic Youth Alliance (NEYA) released a statement on July 4 to denounce the government for taking action and using violence in the crackdown against ethnic Karenni (Kayah) youths who were protesting against the plan to erect Bogyoke Aung San statue in the Karenni State’s capital Loikaw. The NEYA denounces the government for charging ten Karenni youths with defamation…

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…

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…

A committee for drafting the ethnic media policy has been established for the sustainability of ethnic media during the Sixth Ethnic Media Conference. Narinjara News’s chief editor U Khaing Mrat Kyaw told Karen News that the decision was made during the Sixth Ethnic Media Conference, which was held at Zwekabin Hall in Hpa-an, Karen State on April 27-29 under the…

The Shan Human Right Foundation released a statement detailing the brutal rape of a 73-year-old woman by a Burma Army soldier near Mong Phyak Town in eastern Shan State, on April 2, 2018 The Shan Human Right Foundation said the rape and knifing of the elderly woman “highlights the vulnerability of women amid the heavy Burma Army presence in this…

The BackPack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) has opened a rural clinic in No-khwee Village, where healthcare is out of reach, in Paingkyon Township, Hpa-an District in the Karen State on March 3. The BPHWT’s deputy director Nan Snow said No-khwee Village does not receive any healthcare service from the government and local authorities due to difficulties in travelling and lack…

Tension is high after fighting between soldiers from the Karen National Union and the New Mon State Party in Ye Township the last weekend. It adds to government concerns as both ethnic armies are signatories to the National Ceasefire Agreement. The fighting took place on February 24 near Man-aung village in Win Ye Township between troops from the KNU’s armed…